§ 54. Mr. K. Robinsonasked the Minister of Health if he is aware that the London Executive Council recently removed from the surgery of a deceased general practitioner 598 drug samples, including several samples of the same drugs; and if he will bear in mind, in negotiating the renewal of the voluntary price regulation agreement with the pharmaceutical industry, the element of cost inflation resulting from the excessive supply of free samples to doctors.
§ Mr. BarberSales promotion costs, including samples, is one of many matters to be considered during the negotiations.
§ Mr. RobinsonWill not the Minister agree that this sort of thing is carrying sales promotion a little far, particularly since many of these samples were of the same drug supplied to the same doctor again and again? Does not the right hon. Gentleman agree that this must lead to a distinct inflation of drug costs?
§ Mr. BarberUnfortunately, I do not have details of this particular incident, so I do not know over what period the samples were accumulated. But it seems to me that the supply of samples, which is a recognised form of bringing drugs to the attention of doctors, is sensible. I hope that the hon. Member will bear in mind that the code of sales promotion practice for medical specialities in the United Kingdom issued by the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry makes it clear that requests from doctors to be removed from mailing lists must be honoured. If this doctor did not want to receive the samples, all he had to do was to say so.