HC Deb 23 March 1959 vol 602 cc910-1
42. Mr. Rankin

asked the Minister of Health in view of the need to reduce expenditure on drugs, what directions he has given to hospital authorities on purchases of patented varieties of aspirin; and in what circumstances the patented varieties are administered to patients instead of ordinary aspirin.

Mr. Walker-Smith

I assume the hon. Member refers to proprietary forms of aspirin in respect of which no directions have been given to hospitals. Hospital medical staff are free to prescribe particular varieties of drugs if they think them necessary on clinical grounds, and I have no information about the use of proprietary forms of aspirin in these circumstances.

Mr. Rankin

Has the right hon. and learned Gentleman any idea of the difference in cost between these patented varieties of aspirin and aspirin itself? Is he aware that on television one of the patented varieties is widely advertised at six tablets for 6d. as against 24 tablets of aspirin for 4d.? Does the right hon. and learned Gentleman not think, in view of the fact that they are prescribed, that he should inquire into that matter in relation to the instructions given to the ordinary doctor and in order to protect the ordinary public?

Mr. Walker-Smith

Guidance has been issued, of course, to hospital medical staff asking them to avoid the use of expensive proprietary preparations where alternatives exist, and asking them not in general to prescribe preparations which are advertised direct to the public. Both these forms of guidance should avoid the use of expensive proprietaries where there is any suitable standard alternative. I am quite prepared to consider whether the time has arisen for further reinforcement to be given by way of guidance.

Dr. Summerskill

Besides the giving of advice and guidance, are the prescriptions examined and, in consequence, the doctor communicated with in the same way as prescriptions are examined in general practice?

Mr. Walker-Smith

Obviously not in the same way. As the right hon. Lady knows, through the regional machinery we have methods of seeking to enforce economy, but clearly we could not have precisely the same machinery for what are two different sets of circumstances.