§ 50. Mr. Edelmanasked the Minister of Health whether he will now make a further statement on the price of the drug mecamylamine hydrochloride; and, in view of the fact that, following representations made to him by the hon. Member for Coventry, North, the American manufacturing company in question has now announced reduced prices of approximately 15 per cent. to hospitals but has not given an equivalent reduction in price to the medical profession as a whole, whether he will pursue his discussions with the company in question in order to ensure that the benefits of the price reduction may be extended to National Health prescriptions as well as to prescriptions by private practitioners.
§ Mr. R. ThompsonAs the hon. Member knows, my right hon. and learned Friend is in touch with the manufacturers of this drug. I understand that the prices of the larger packs for supply to hospitals were reduced with effect from 16th March and that these reductions resulted from a review of demand made in January when a new plant was opened. I am informed that the pattern usually followed by the company is to reduce prices to hospitals first and to follow this with a reduction 85W to the trade generally; and that it is proposed to follow this course for this drug.