§ 43 and 44. Mr. Ogdenasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he is satisfied with the efficacy of the fixed combination drugs albamycin T, cremostrep, ivax, orastrep, penicillin v sulpha, as used in the National Health Service; and what consultations he is having with the British pharmaceutical industry and 949 the British Medical Association in regard to their manufacture and use;
(2) if, in view of the fact that the United States Food and Drug Administration have banned certain fixed combination anti-biotic drugs, details of which have been supplied to him by the hon. Member for Liverpool, West Derby, he will, in advance of the operations of the Medicines Commission, refer this matter to the Dunlop Committee and the McGregor Committee for their consideration.
§ Mr. SnowThe withdrawal of these products on grounds of safety has not been recommended by the Committee on Safety of Drugs. The Joint Committee on the Classification of Proprietary Preparations, one of whose major concerns is relative efficacy, has, however, classified four of them as products whose use it regards as open to question and will be considering the fifth shortly. My right hon. Friend has no further consultations in mind.
§ Mr. OgdenI thank my hon. Friend for that reply. Is he aware that I was not complaining about the safety of the drugs, but suggesting that this was a most inefficient, expensive and wasteful method of treatment? Could he put in the OFFICIAL REPORT the names of the four drugs to which he referred?
§ Following is the information:
- Cremostrep.
- Ivax.
- Orastrep.
- Penicillin v sulpha.