§ 18. Dr. Strossasked the Minister of Health whether he has noted that exactly similar preparations of some drugs, particularly penicillin, are manufactured by different chemical firms and stocked by dispensing chemists; that these preparations have different names; and whether he will authorise dispensing chemists to dispense an exact equivalent, irrespective of the name on the prescription.
§ Miss Hornsby-SmithMy right hon. Friend is aware of the position, but he would not feel justified in authorising chemists to dispense preparations other than those prescribed. The matter is primarily one for the prescriber.
§ Dr. StrossIs the hon. Lady aware that, certainly so far as oral and stable suspensions of penicillin are concerned, there are four or five which are exactly alike and certainly identical in their therapeutic effects? Is she aware that this may mean that a child suffering from pneumonia cannot get anything to help it for a day or a night or a day and a night when a similar preparation is available for it? What does the Parliamentary Secretary think ought to be done in such a case?
§ Miss Hornsby-SmithUnder the present code of the chemists, it would be quite unethical for a chemist to transpose one preparation for another that was ordered by the medical practitioner. In a case of that kind, there is certainly no reason why the chemist could not telephone the doctor and ask whether he would agree to change to the comparable preparation.
§ Dr. StrossWould the Parliamentary Secretary and her right hon. Friend go further and make representations to the appropriate sub-committee of the British Medical Association to give this matter full consideration?
§ Miss Hornsby-SmithIt is a much wider problem than appears in this one item; it is against the professional code of the chemist. The National Health Service Acts do not authorise a chemist to substitute another preparation for one which is ordered and I do not think that generally my right hon. Friend could advise such a procedure.