§ Miss Richardsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will make available to less developed countries new information on the side effects associated with specific drugs, as well as notification of any drugs which have been refused or had their product licences withdrawn.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeSummaries of information derived from adverse reaction reports received by the Committee on Safey of Medicines, and particulars of medicinal products which have been licensed and later had the licences revoked on grounds of safety, are transmitted to the World Health Organisation which makes them available to all member states. However, information about first-time applications for licences which have been refused is confidential and provided only to the regulatory authorities of other countries as required by our obligations under European Community law.
§ Miss Richardsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether his Department's drug inspectors have made information on the safety and efficacy of drugs 474W available to the health ministers of less-developed countries; how many requests for information have been received, and from which countries.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeMany countries maintain informal links with the Department's medicines division which is always ready to give advice on regulatory matters. No requests for information from inspectors about specific drugs have been received from less developed countries. As I mentioned in my other reply to the hon. Member today, information about individual drugs is made available routinely through the World Health Organisation and as required under European Community law.
§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what action he intends to take on the report from the Comptroller and Auditor General on profits made by manufacturing and dispensing chemists on drugs supplied to the National Health Service.
§ Mr. Kenneth Clarke[pursuant to his reply, 18 February 1983, c. 296]: As already announced, we have decided that the whole pharmaceutical price regulation scheme, which applies to pharmaceutical manufacturers, should be reviewed. The Comptroller and Auditor General's report noted that, although there had been delays in getting under way the inquiry into discounts obtainable by chemists, it was now proceeding. The results of the inquiry are expected in the spring.