§ 32. Lieut.-Commander Gurney Braithwaiteasked the Minister of Health whether he is satisfied that adequate supplies of streptomycin are reaching this country for the use of hospitals and general practitioners.
§ The Minister of Health (Mr. Aneurin Bevan)The merits of this drug have not yet been established and it is still under clinical trial by the Medical Research Council. The only supplies which have been obtained by the Government are for the purpose of these trials.
§ Lieut.-Commander BraithwaiteMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman, in view of the increasing number of S.O.S. broadcast appeals for streptomycin, and in view of the fact that it is apparently readily obtainable from drug stores in the United States, is the shortage of supply here in any way due to our dollar difficulties, or is it through opposition in high medical quarters?
§ Mr. BevanThe answer to the last part of the supplementary question is that there is no restriction on the dollar side to the purchase of whatever amount of streptomycin is necessary for the tests, but in view of the fact that this drug has not yet been proved, I am very glad to know that it cannot be obtained in drug stores in this country.
§ Mr. W. ShepherdAs these appeals cause a great deal of alarm, cannot the Minister do something to stop them taking place?
§ Mr. BevanI have made an announcement in this House deploring these appeals and deploring all appeals for drugs which are not properly tested beforehand. I regret very much that the B.B.C. is giving facilities for these appeals.
Dr. TaylorIs the Minister aware that in the United States the sale of streptomycin is not through drug stores and that it is controlled by the National Control Council there as it is here?