HL Deb 24 July 1985 vol 466 cc1195-6

2.47 p.m.

Baroness Sharples

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question standing in my name on the Order Paper.

The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether it is necessary that safety tests carried out on natural medicines should also include an evaluation of their efficacy.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health and Social Security (Baroness Trumpington)

My Lords, where a product is put on the market as a licensed medicine, there should be adequate evidence not only that the product is safe but also that it can be of benefit. Licences issued under the Medicines Act give that assurance.

Baroness Sharples

My Lords, I thank my noble friend for that reply. Is my noble friend able to say what the Government's attitude is towards natural medicines; and can she also say whether, when there are new appointments made to the advisory boards on medicine, they will include people who are authorities on natural medicines?

Baroness Trumpington

My Lords, I thank my noble friend Lady Sharples for those supplementary questions. In answer to the first one, we wholeheartedly support the freedom of the individual to seek the benefits of alternative medicines and therapies. It is not our intention to use the Medicines Act to restrict the general availability of alternative medicines. In answer to my noble friend's second supplementary question, we do not consider it necessary now to alter the membership of the Medicines Act advisory bodies, but there are wide powers to add to the membership should the need arise.

Viscount Massereene and Ferrard

My Lords, would my noble friend not agree that in the 1960s, when the Medicines Act came about, there was in fact a representative of natural medicines on the committee to help decide whether or not any of these natural medicines should be phased out?

Baroness Trumpington

My Lords, I was not in fact in this seat in the 1960s, but I am sure that my noble friend is right.

Lord Ennals

My Lords, would the noble Baroness agree that there has been a refreshing change in medical opinion about alternative medicines? In relation to the particular Question asked by the noble Baroness, would the Minister not accept that, provided that the safety of medicines is assured, the question of efficacy is really one for the doctor and for the patient? Would the noble Baroness perhaps agree that it is a very subjective question? A natural medicine which may be very helpful for one patient may not do anything at all for another.

Baroness Trumpington

My Lords, surely it is right that practitioners and the public should have some reassurance through the licensing system that products are safe and that they work. That is why the Medicines Act was put on the statute book, and that is why, even though we support alternative medicines if people want to use them, we must be sure that no harm can ensue.

Lord Ennals

Yes, my Lords, that is quite right.