UK needs to open its mind to brain stimulation:

Some 120,000 people in the UK suffer from Parkinson's disease and about 25,000 would benefit from the £25,000 ($39,000) operation to have implanted Medtronics' deep brain stimulation device to suppress its symptoms. Yet the UK has one of the lowest uptakes in Europe, Michael Holman, Parkinson' patient and journalist at the UK's Financial Times told a meeting in Budapest, Hungary on October 10. Speaking at the annual general meeting communications forum of the European medical device industry association, Mr Holman explained that the operation is cost-effective, since it replaces many of the medication costs - which can total £3,000 a year per patient. In addition, it provides an immeasurable improvement in the quality of life of a patient. Mr Holman's talk served to illustrate the point that the industry is making that government's are turning down innovative medical technology because of its high initial costs, without considering fully the long-term benefits for all concerned.