§ Mr. Mike Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether Clause (5) of his joint statement with the chairman of the British Medical Association on drug prescribing implies an obligation on the part of doctors to prescribe the most economic appropriate medicament that meets the standard of the British Pharmacoepeia/Codex rather than particular branded drugs.
§ Mr. DeakinsThere can be no question of any part of the joint statement—a copy of which is in the Library—imposing any legal obligation on a doctor, but, as the statement indicates, both the British Medical Association and my right hon. Friend are concerned at the steady growth in demand for and undue reliance upon medicines, and I trust that clause 5 will encourage all doctors to take account of the relative cost of drugs when equally effective alternatives are available.
§ Mr. Knoxasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the value 253W of drugs prescribed under the National Health Service by chemists in the Leek parliamentary constituency in 1970, 1974 and 1977 at constant prices.
§ Mr. MoyleInformation relating to the value of drugs either prescribed by doctors or dispensed by chemists in the Leek parliamentary constituency is not readily available, nor is it practicable to make constant price calculations in respect of the supply of drugs in a local area. However, the value of drugs, preparations and appliances dispensed by chemist (including appliance) contractors under the National Health Service in the former Staffordshire executive council area and from April 1974, in the larger Staffordshire family practitioner committee area—in both of which the Leek constituency is included—was as follows:
Area and Calendar year Value (£) Staffordshire executive council area: 1970 1,534,520 To 31st March 1974 714,534 Staffordshire family practitioner committee area: From 1st April 1974 2,963,146 1977 8,713,177