§ Mr. Cryerasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether conditions requiring the prescription of chlorpromazine, droperidol, fluphenazine, haloperidol, pimozide, thioridazine, trifluoperazine, amitriptyline, clomipramine, dothiepin, imipramine, lithium carbonate, nomifensine, protriptyline and trimipramine have been considered for exemption from prescription charges; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeSome 70 per cent. of all prescription items are currently dispensed without charge. The exemption arrangements are based on exempting defined groups of patients and not, with the exception of contraceptive drugs and appliances, on the particular form of drug therapy involved. I have a great deal of sympathy for people suffering from those conditions—broadly, ones affecting the central nervous system—which might generally be treated with the drugs listed. However, such conditions are not included in the list of medical conditions which entitle a person to exemption and we have no proposals at present to widen the present arrangements.