§ Mr. Tony Lloydasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what preparations are being made by Her Majesty's Government for the World Health Organisation meeting in 1985 which will discuss a code of practice for multinational companies exporting pharmaceutical products; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeAt the World Health Assembly in Geneva in May, the United Kingdom supported a resolution on the rational use of drugs. This included a request to the Director-General of the World Health Organisation to arrange a meeting in 1985 of experts (including Governments, pharmaceutical industries, patients' and consumers' organisations) to discuss the means and methods of ensuring the rational use of drugs through improved knowledge and flow of information and to discuss the role of marketing practices especially in developing countries.
The World Health Organisation is at present planning the conference but has not yet agreed the agenda. In response to a request from the World Health Organisation the United Kingdom Government have offered $50,000 towards conference costs.