Prescriptions

HC Deb 09 November 1950 vol 480 cc1109-10

38. Mr. George Jeger

asked the Minister of Health, in view of the difficulties of National Health Service doctors in resisting the demands of patients for prescriptions for medicinal preparations advertised direct to the public, what steps he proposes to take to deal with this matter.

Mr. Bevan

Yes, Sir. Responsibility for prescribing should rest solely on the judgment of the doctor. Sir Henry Cohen's Committee on Prescribing therefore recommended that publicly advertised preparations should not be prescribed under the National Health Service. This recommendation has been sent to all doctors, who have been asked to observe it, and any doctor who refuses importunate demands has my full support.

Mr. Jeger

Is my right hon. Friend aware that there is a section of the medical profession that has been organised to collect funds to resist the Health Service; and would he appeal to them to divert these funds towards the education of the medical profession in the direction which he has just outlined?

Mr. Bevan

From the preliminary information at our disposal, I believe that the recommendation of the Sir Henry Cohen's Committee is being carried out generally. I would not like to believe that the doctors require any further education, but if they do require it, we shall, of course, consider what we have to do.

Mr. Henry Strauss

Is it a fact that, so far, less than 1 per cent. of prescriptions have been for nationally advertised medicines?

Mr. Bevan

No, and if the hon. and learned Gentleman has got that information, and if he would give me its source, I shall be delighted, because I have not got such precise information myself.

Mrs. Jean Mann

Is my right hon. Friend aware that many doctors are greatly perturbed at the wide latitude allowed to them for over-prescribing, and that many are protesting and asking that the old procedure, whereby prescriptions were properly scrutinised, should be reintroduced?

Mr. Bevan

Yes, I believe that is so, but that is a different question.

Mr. Strauss

Could the right hon. Gentleman say what, in his opinion, is the figure, if he questions mine?

Mr. Bevan

If the hon. and learned Gentleman puts a question on the Order Paper, I will try to give him the information.