§ Group-Captain Wilcockasked the Minister of Health to what extent the drug streptomycin is in short supply in this country because of the cost in dollars of its purchase from America; and whether he will give the House the present position as regards the supply of this drug.
§ Mr. Levyasked the Minister of Health how the medical advisers to his Department assess the value of streptomycin; whether there is difficulty in obtaining it in sufficient quantities owing to world shortage; and whether its availability in this country is limited by any other factors than unavoidable scarcity.
§ Mr. Symondsasked the Minister of Health to what extent the production of streptomycin has now been developed in this country; what supplies are now being obtained from the United States; and how many cases there are on waiting lists unable to obtain treatment for lack of this drug.
§ Mr. BevanStreptomycin is not in short supply because of its cost in dollars at all. Production on quite a large scale over here has begun. Already, together with purchases still being made from the U.S.A., it is enough to cover all medical needs for which the use of the drug is so far reliably indicated—and shortly it should do so without any need for purchasing abroad. I am advised as to the purposes just mentioned by the Medical Research Council. There is still some limitation of suitably staffed beds and therefore some waiting lists, but—now that I am in a position to do so, since 5th July—I am asking all regional hospital boards to arrange additional facilities wherever they can.