§ Mrs. Millie Millerasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will investigate the possibility of instituting central purchasing of pharmaceutical 234W and medical supplies within the National Health Service.
§ Mr. MoyleThe system of prescribing in the family practioners service does not lend itself to central purchasing. Some pharmaceutical and medical supplies required by hospitals are bought by my Department centrally but the majority are bought under regional or area contracts. Levels of these purchases are continuously being reviewed so as to secure the best value for money, and during the course of these reviews the possible advantages of central purchasing are always under consideration.