§ 58. Mr. Pavittasked the Secretary of State for Social Services why his Department has accepted the continuation of free supplies of chlordiazepoxide and diazepam; for how long hospitals have been receiving these products free of charge; what is his estimate of the cost of these supplies to the National Health Service; if a similar acceptance of comparable drugs is given to competing drug manufacturers; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. AlisonFree supplies of these drugs to hospitals have been accepted62W either as part of a settlement under the Voluntary Price Regulation Scheme or pending such a settlement. The arrangements for chlordiazepoxide have operated since 1st June, 1969, and those for diazepam since 1st July, 1971. The information about total payments by the National Health Service is confidential to the manufacturer. It is open to other manufacturers to make similar offers if they so desire.
§ 59. Mr. Pavittasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps he will now take to counter the criticisms made upon his policy of prescription of drugs by their official or generic names rather than by their brand name, a copy of which has been sent to him by the hon. Member for Willesden, West; what his estimate is of the total amount paid by the National Health Service for the products of the company concerned; and if he will make a statement.
§ Sir K. JosephI do not consider that any specific action is called for. Doctors are well aware of the arguments in relation to the biological availability of drugs, and no doubt take account of them in their prescribing to such extent as they consider them relevant.
The information about total payment,, by the National Health Service is confidential to the company.
§ Mr. Pavittasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if the issue of water colour pictures, an example of which has been sent to him by the hon. Member for Willesden, West, constitutes a breach of the code of practice operated by the drug industry or the arrangements he has made under the voluntary price regulation scheme.
§ Sir K. JosephI am asking the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry whether the literature sent to me by the hon. Member conforms with the association's code of practice.
I take a close interest in promotion which appears to be wasteful, but sales promotion is primarily the responsibility of the management of a company and this leaflet contains promotional and clinical information as well as the reproduction of a picture.
§ Mr. Pavittasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many different 63W brands of chlorpropamide have been used in National Health Service hospitals during the last five years and if there is a generic equivalent.
§ Mr. AlisonOnly one brand of chlorpropamide (Diabenese) has been used in National Health Service hospitals over the past five years. The drug has been fully protected by patent and the sole United Kingdom licensee is Pfizer under licence from Hoechst. There is no generic equivalent.
§ Mr. Pavittasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list in the OFFICIAL REPORT the prices paid for EC10 prescriptions and those at present paid by supplies officers of National Health Service hospitals for chlordiazepoxide in capsules of B.P. 5 mg., B.P. 10 mg. and tables of 5 mg., 10 mg. and 25 mg.
§ Mr. AlisonThe wholesale prices reimbursed to a chemist for chlordiazepoxide supplied on EC10 prescriptions are:
Capsules/Tablets … … 5 mg x 100–80p Capsules/Tablets … … 5 mg x 500–325p Capsules/Tablets … … 10 mg x 100–100p Capsules/Tablets … … 10 mg x 500–410p Tablets … … 25 mg x 100–200p 25 mg x 500–820p These preparations are at present supplied free to hospitals.
§ Mr. Pavittasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list in the OFFICIAL REPORT the prices paid for EC10 prescriptions and those at present paid by supplies officers of National Health Service hospitals for diazepam capsules of B.P. 2 mg., 5 mg. and for tablets of 2 mg., 5 mg. and 10 mg., for injection ampoules of 10 mg. and 20 mg. and for syrup of 2 mg. and 5 mg.
§ Mr. AlisonThe wholesale prices reimbused to a chemist for diazepam supplied on EC10 prescriptions are:
64W
Capsules/Tablets 2 mg x 100–83p Capsules/Tablets 2 mg x 500–333p Capsules/Tablets 5 mg x 100–120p Capsules/Tablets 5 mg x 500–493p Ampoules 10 mg/2 mls— packs of 10 92p Ampoules 10 mg/2 mls— packs of 50 403p Ampoules 20 mg/4 mls— packs of 10 135p Syrup 2 mg/5 mls— pack of 100 mls 40p These preparations are at present supplied free to hospitals.
§ Mr. Pavittasked the Secretary of State for Social Services why he has permitted a drug manufacturer, who has mounted a campaign against his policy to prescribe by generic names for National Health Service patients, to supply Diabenese tablets free of charge to hospitals as a means of influencing the prescribing habits of doctors in favour of a brand name.
§ Sir K. JosephI would not feel justified in advising hospital authorities to refuse the offer of free supplies from the sole source of supply of this patented drug.
§ Mr. Pavittasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will establish a working party to examine if brand name drugs supplied free of charge over a period of time to hospitals have led to a monopoly or near monopoly situation.
§ Sir K. JosephNo. The Monopolies Commission is investigating the supply to the National Health Service of two drugs and both are at present made available without charge to the hospitals. I think it right to await the commission's report, which is expected towards the end of the year.