§ Mr. Derek Pageasked the Minister of Health what steps he proposes to take to ensure that retail sales of drugs are adequately supervised by qualified pharmacists in appropriate cases.
§ Mr. K. RobinsonRetail sales of drugs which are listed as poisons are at present required to be supervised by registered pharmacists. During the consideration of the provisions which might be included in new drugs legislation my right hon. and learned Friend the Home Secretary and I are examining whether other requirements for supervision of the sale of drugs by pharmacists are called for.
§ Mr. Howeasked the Minister of Health what changes there have been in the type and cost of drugs and similar preparations being prescribed since the abolition of the prescription charge.
§ Mr. K. RobinsonThe overall increase in both number and cost of prescriptions dispensed in England and Wales since January 1965 has been reflected in most of the major therapeutic groups. There has been some variation in the size of the increase in different groups, though no clear pattern has yet emerged except that the precentage increases in the total net ingredient cost are somewhat less than the percentage increases in number of prescriptions. This reflects a fall in average cost per prescription, which may be due to the prescribing of smaller quantities and of items costing less than two shillings if purchased at the chemist's.