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Case Study: An Insider Group - the British Medical Association (BMA)…
Case Study: An Insider Group - the British Medical Association (BMA)
Insider groups are those that are consulted by the government and therefore have insider status. Insider groups need to be law-abiding with a good public image to retain the trust of the government.
Main Aims
Acts as the doctors' trade union, to improve pay and conditions.
Lobbies the government for improvements to healthcare and public health, e.g. a minimum unit price for alcohol sales, a sugar tax on drinks.
Membership: 160,000 doctors and medical students.
Methods
The BMA briefs MPs on health policy, meets with ministers and responds to consultations.
Organised the first full strike by junior doctors (including emergency care) in April 2016, over changes to the junior doctors' contract.
Successes
In 2017 the government launched a public consultation on an opt-out system for organ donation, which the BMA campaigns for.
From 2002, the BMA campaigned for a smoking ban and was successful in achieving this in 2007.
In April 2018 the government introduced a sugar tax on fizzy drinks.
Campaigned for seatbelts to be compulsory for all occupants of cars: this was finally achieved in 1991.
One of the most respected insider groups: influences the government as it develops policies.
Plays a leading role in every public debate about public health and healthcare.
Failures
The government did not five in to junior doctors: the new contracts were imposed on them in October 2016.
Although the BMA is an effective promotional group, its inability to avoid the new contracts suggests that it is less effective as an interest group.
The BMA cancelled plans for a second junior doctors' strike in September 2016 after junior doctors complained that hospitals had not been given long enough to prepare.