§ Lord Clement-Jonesasked Her Majesty's Government:
What reports the Department of Health has commissioned or undertaken in the last year on the management or administration of:
and whether these reports will be placed in the Library of the House. [HL4185]
- (a) National Health Service pensions;
- (b) general procurement;
- (c) National Health Service payroll; and
- (d) drug procurement;
§ Lord Hunt of Kings HeathIn November 1999 the Department of Health commissioned a fundamental review of arrangements for the supply of generic medicines to National Health Service community pharmacies and dispensing doctors. The review was carried out by Oxford Economic Research Associates (OXERA) and their final report was submitted in September 2000. As a next step, the department intends to issue proposals for longer-term arrangements for the generics supply chain, drawing on OXERA's work, for discussion with interested parties, along with a summary report of the factual basis of OXERA's findings. A copy of the proposals and the summary report will be placed in the Library.
In relation to branded medicines, the department produced the third report to Parliament on the Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme. This was announced by a Written Answer in another place on 20 December 1999 at col. 420W, and copies were placed in the Library on that day.
The department has not commissioned or undertaken any reports during the last year on the management and administration of National Health Service pensions, general procurement, or a NHS payroll service.