§ Dr. Roger Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on the provision of drugs on the National Health Service for patients who have been recommended and prescribed 631W those drugs and medications at private consultations; and whether he had or intends to hold talks with the British Medical Association on this matter.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeA patient who chooses treatment on a private basis must pay the full cost of that treatment, including any necessary drugs. The possibility of providing prescribed medicines to private patients through the National Health Service has been raised with successive Governments by the representatives of the medical profession but has not been adopted because of the additional drug costs involved. I have no plans to initiate discussions with the British Medical Association on this matter.