HC Deb 23 October 1967 vol 751 cc1326-8
17. Dr. John Dunwoody

asked the Minister of Health what action he proposes to take as a result of the recommendations of the Sainsbury Committee.

21. Mr. Pavitt

asked the Minister of Health when he proposes to publish a White Paper on the Sainsbury Report; and if he will make a statement.

32. Dr. Summerskill

asked the Minister of Health what steps he is taking to implement the recommendations of the Sainsbury Committee concerning the drug industry.

43. Sir E. Bullus

asked the Minister of Health when he expects to publish the report of the Sainsbury Committee set up to inquire into the relationship between the pharmaceutical industry and the National Health Service; and if he will make a statement.

The Minister of Health (Mr. Kenneth Robinson)

The Report was published on 29th September as a Command Paper. It provides a valuable appraisal of the difficult and often controversial issues which affect the relationship between the pharmaceutical industry and the National Health Service, and the Government are greatly indebted to Lord Sainsbury and his colleagues for their valuable, thorough and far-reaching study.

The Report requires, and is receiving, close study by the Government and the industry, and it would be premature at this stage to reach conclusions on the Committee's recommendations.

Dr. Dunwoody

Would not my right hon. Friend agree that this is both a timely and a moderate Report? Will he give particular consideration to the suggestions for changing the pricing machinery for drugs, for revision of the Patents Act as it affects new drugs, and for the setting up of a medicines commission?

Mr. Robinson

Yes, Sir. All these matters will be very carefully considered by my Department and by the industry and other interested parties.

Mr. Pavitt

In view of the very commonsense approach to this whole question by the Sainsbury Committee, will my right hon. Friend ensure, first, that the proposed legislation on medicines goes beyond just the medicines commission and includes all other necessary legislation and, secondly, that there is an amendment to the National Health Service Act which will permit family doctors to prescribe drugs as part of the services of the Crown?

Mr. Robinson

No doubt these matters will be considered. In answer to the first part of my hon. Friend's supplementary question, I can tell the House that the Sainsbury Committee's recommendations on the control of medicines are being studied in relation to the proposals in the recent White Paper on forthcoming legislation on medicines. We are urgently seeking the views of the interests chiefly involved on the implications of these recommendations. Broadly, we think that they are in line with the concept of the White Paper.

Dr. Summerskill

As a result of the revelations in the Report, would my right hon. Friend take steps to ensure that in future a far greater proportion of the profits of the drug industry are put into research, particularly among the British-owned companies?

Mr. Robinson

As my hon. Friend no doubt has read, the Committee had a good deal to say about research. On the question of profits, it is true that the Committee referred to Excessive prices to the extent of several millions of £s over a three-year period. That phrase must be related to a total expenditure over that period of between £300 million and £400 million.

Sir H. Legge-Bourke

Can the Minister give an undertaking that, whatever conclusions he may eventually arrive at in the light of this Report, he will do his best to ensure that adequate finance still remains available to ensure adequate research and development on new preparations?

Mr. Robinson

Yes; I do not think there is any doubt that this will be the case.

Dr. Winstanley

In the course of his consideration of this very important Report, will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that the cost of drugs per head of population in this country is still substantially lower than that in most comparable countries and that waste, although it arises from a competitive, commercial drug industry, also arises substantially from the prescribing habits of doctors and from facts which are innate within the National Health Service?

Mr. Robinson

Yes. I think that both these points were taken and commented upon by the Sainsbury Committee.