§ 19. Mr. Boydenasked the Minister of Health if, in negotiating contracts for National Health Service drugs, he will in future disallow costs occasioned by the representatives of firms calling on doctors and half the cost of advertising in medical journals and mail advertising.
§ Mr. PowellNo, Sir. I negotiate contracts only for drugs supplied to hospitals.
§ Mr. BoydenIn that case, why cannot the right hon. Gentleman's own Department's Journal, the Prescriber's Journal, do for advertising drugs to doctors what the whole industry's advertising does at about one-thousandth of the cost?
§ Mr. PowellI do not think the hon. Member seriously suggests that advertising by manufacturers should be prohibited. If he does, I cannot possibly agree with him, although I agree that the Prescriber's Journal already performs a useful function and will continue to perform a more useful function as time goes on in this respect. The cost of promotion is one of the matters which is taken into account by my Department in negotiating under the voluntary price regulation scheme.