§ 56. Mr. Croninasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his policy with regard to the prescription of brand name drugs in the National Health Service, when exactly the same drugs are obtainable at a much lower cost without a brand name.
§ Mr. MoyleFamily doctors in the NHS are free to prescribe whatever drugs they consider their patients need, though they may be called upon to justify their prescribing decisions.
Where a drug exists in a number of forms, whether branded or unbranded, doctors are asked to prescribe the most economical version they consider suitable. My Department takes steps to keep them informed of the cost of the obvious alternatives and is currently examining ways of improving and extending its information about drugs and drug costs.
§ 57. Mr. Pavittasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will examine 410W the increase in the price of a drug available on prescription which will soon be out of patent, the name of which has been sent to him by the hon. Member for Brent, South, with a view to ensuring that the Voluntary Price Regulation Scheme does not permit increases to make prices in the United Kingdom comparable with those obtained in Common Market countries; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MoyleI can confirm that the basis of the Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme is unchanged—that is, the criterion used in considering applications for price increases is whether the company's profits in its dealings with the NHS will remain at an acceptable level.