§ Mr. Pavittasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if, in his assessment of promotional costs of analgesics under the voluntary price regulation scheme, he includes visits by doctors and their wives to Jersey; and if he will investigate the information sent to him by the hon. Member for Willesden, West.
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§ Sir K. JosephThe conference was for the purpose of briefing and debriefing in general practitioners conducting clinical trials on psychiatric and rheumatic conditions. It was held in Jersey during the winter because in the off season it is just as cheap as in a major centre in England. The purpose of the conference was perfectly proper, and the company assures me that the wives' expenses will not be charged against the National Health Service.
§ Mr. Pavittasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will introduce regulations to require notification to the relevant local medical committee of all dinners provided for groups of general practitioners by the manufacturers of
Product Presentation Quantity Price to Chemist Intal … … Spincaps … … … 50 £2.77 Septrin … … Tablets … … … 500 £20.00 Bactrim … … Tablets … … … 500 £20.00 Aldomet … … 250 mg tablets … … … 500 £9.33 Cidomycin (Gentamycin) … Cream … … … 30 gm £0.99 Centicin (Gentamycin) … … Cream … … … 100 gm £2.30 Penbritin … … 250 mg capsules … … … 500 £15.00 Magnapen … … 500 mg capsules … … … 100 £11.80 Moditen … … 5 mg tablets … … … 500 £10.20
§ Mr. Pavittasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the comparative costs to the National Health Service of the new urinary antibacterial called hippurex and the previously used hexamine antiseptics of which it is a variation; and if he will include these figures in the next comparative costs information sent out to doctors.
§ Mr. AlisonThe cost to the National Health Service of thirty tablets of hiprex (not hippurex) and hexamine, when dispensed by a retail chemist is 75p and 14p respectively.
Information is sent to doctors about the cost of the most widely prescribed drugs and this is kept under continuous review.
§ Mr. Pavittasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what evaluation has been made by his Department of the efficacy of altacite compared with the other antacids used by the National Health Service; and if he will publish comparative costings in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Mr. AlisonMy Department does not evaluate the comparative efficacy of drugs80W pharmaceutical products as part of their sales promotions.
§ Sir K. JosephI do not consider that it would be appropriate to involve local medical committees in this way.