HC Deb 28 April 1958 vol 587 cc2-3W
30. Lieut.-Colonel Bromley-Davenport

asked the Minister of Health whether he is yet in a position to state the result of his Department's discussions with the British Medical Association about the provision to all private patients free of charge, other than the prescription charge, of a selected list of drugs; what would be the estimated cost of allowing these drugs to private patients; and whether consideration will be given to amending the National Health Service Act on these lines.

Mr. Walker-Smith

The discussions, which relate to the supply of all necessary drugs and not a selected list, and are of a purely exploratory nature, are still in progress. Any estimate of cost would be highly speculative because the number of private patients is not known.