§ 3. Mr. Neil Thorneasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is satisfied with the present method of controlling expenditure on drugs in the National Health Service.
§ The Under Secretary of State for Health and Social Security (Sir George Young)The Department has introduced a number of measures over the years to control expenditure on drugs, but I am always willing to consider suggestions for improvement.
§ Mr. ThorneI am grateful to my hon. Friend for his reply. Is he aware that I had hoped that he would be able to assure me that a committee would be set up to investigate this area with a view to making considerable savings in expenditure? I had also hoped that he would give an undertaking that pharmacists would be included in such a committee as well as medical practitioners and pharmaceutical manufacturers.
§ Sir G. YoungMy hon. Friend rightly points out that we have set up a working group to establish an effective dialogue between prescribers and the Department. At this moment, the composition of that group does not include a pharmacist, but my hon. Friend has made a positive suggestion which I should like to think about and then to respond to him.
§ Mr. Christopher PriceHave the Government any proposals to restrict the present unrestricted right of prescription by doctors? Is my hon. Friend aware that that is an uncontrolled element of expenditure within the National Health Service? Does he realise that the only way of controlling it is to prevent doctors from prescribing drugs, which, in certain cases, are almost the same as similar drugs but which might cost four, five or six times as much?
§ Sir G. YoungNo, Sir. The Royal Commission also looked at this subject and concluded that that avenue would not necessarily yield any savings.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyIs my hon. Friend aware that on occasions drugs are prescribed which cost more through the National Health Service than they would cost privately? At the same time will he look into the question of the supply of spectacles? I am now wearing a pair of glasses which cost $10—£4. Is my hon. Friend aware that such spectacles are commercially available in the United States at a lower price than the subsidised cost through the National Health Service in England?
§ Sir G. YoungWith regard to the first part of my hon. Friend's question, it is true that a small percentage of prescriptions can currently be bought at a lower cost than the prescription charge. With regard to his second point, my hon. Friend the Minister of State is looking at the whole question of optical charges to see whether we can come up with a more equitable solution.
§ Mr. MaxtonWill the Minister answer the question that his right hon. Friend the Secretary of State refused to answer and say whether he will try to claw back some of the money spent on drugs in the National Health Service by introducing prescription charges for retirement pensioners?
§ Sir G. YoungWe have no plans to alter the current exemptions.