§ Baroness Blatchasked Her Majesty's Government:
What arrangements exist to enable the licence holders of pharamaceutical products to have their products included in the Department of Health's list for dental prescribing in the National Health Service.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Baroness Hooper)Ministers are advised by the Dental Formulary Sub-Committee on which preparations should be included in the list of preparations appropriate for prescription by dental practitioners in the NHS. The Department of Health, on behalf of the UK health departments, has published guidance to licence holders who wish to have their preparation included in the list, and I have today lodged a copy in the Library.
With effect from 31st December 1989, licence-holders will be advised in writing of the sub-committee's proposed recommendations to health ministers. They will then be given 30 days from the date of the letter—or longer, at the discretion of my right honourable and learned friend the Secretary of State—in which to make written representations against the proposed recommendation. Requests for an oral hearing may be considered by the Secretary of Si:ate for Health and these will be granted if it is considered that the case is such that advice cannot be formulated properly without it. The sub-committee will take full account of any representations against the proposed recommendation.