§ Sir E. Graham-Littleasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that there is much dissatisfaction in the medical profession in Jamaica at the limitation of supplies of penicillin and that an expert advisory committee appointed by the local branch, of the B.M.A. is competent to ensure that all supplies reaching the Colony shall be used to the best medical advantage and that adequate facilities exist for, and have been in force for, controlled clinical trial; and if he will again review the whole position.
§ Colonel StanleyIt is the case that there was some dissatisfaction in Jamaica at the limitation of supplies of penicillin, but this was at least partly due to a misunderstanding as to the possibility of supply through normal commercial channels and as to the necessity for limitation of the supplies available for Colonial civil use. It has now been possible to arrange for penicillin to be 2247W used in the Colonies subject only to the same restrictions as apply in this country, but Government control of distribution is still necessary and is now being exercised in Jamaica by a local committee consisting of three Government medical officers and two private practitioners nominated by the local branch of the British Medical Association. I hope that with the fuller supplies available and greater understanding of the restrictions which are still necessary the causes for local dissatisfaction have been removed.