§ 29. Mr. Home Robertsonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the Government's policy concerning the availability of drugs on prescription under the National Health Service in Scotland.
§ Mr. John MacKayI refer the hon. Member to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services on 8 November 1984, column 226.
§ 32. Mr. Willie W. Hamiltonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the representations made to him on his recent proposals on the prescription of drugs on the National Health Service.
§ 34. Mr. O'Neillasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what response he has had from the medical profession in Scotland about the proposed restricted list of generic medicines; and how many were (a) in support of his proposals and (b) opposed to his proposals.
§ Mr. John MacKayBy the end of the consultation period on 31 January some 1,200 representations had been received on the proposals for a limited list of drugs. Of these, some 290 were from doctors and the remainder from a wide range of individuals and organisations. About 40 of the letters from doctors were simply circular letters suppled by the drug industry. Many doctors were concerned by specific aspects of the illustrative list issued for consultation purposes; more than half of the representations from doctors did not make it clear whether a limited list amended in accordance with their suggestions would be acceptable to them. Of the other representations received, 550 were pro forma type protest notes provided or evidently prompted by the patients' doctors. Most of the remainder expressed varying degrees of concern, in many instances about drugs which will remain available under the limited list proposals.