§ 15. Mr. Heathcoat-Amoryasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what estimate he has made of the latest extent of parallel importing of drugs prescribed under the National Health Service.
§ Mr. HayhoeI regret that firm figures about parallel imported medicines dispensed under the National Health Service are not available, but unofficial estimates of between £80 million—£90 million a year have been published.
§ Mr. Heathcoat-AmoryMay I suggest to my right hon. Friend that he may be underestimating the extent of parallel importing, and that consequentially he is over-remunerating those pharmacists who have access to these drugs? Will he do more to investigate officially the extent of parallel importing and try to prevent this unfairness?
§ Mr. HayhoeMy hon. Friend will be pleased to learn that the Department is about to hold a new inquiry into discounts enjoyed by retail pharmacists. This will take into account all discounts in the market place, including parallel imports.