§ Mr. James Whiteasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his policy regarding the continuing rise in the drug bill for the National Health Service.
§ Mr. MillanIt remains my policy that patients must be able to get any medicines considered necessary for their treatment.
Subject to that general policy there must be an appreciation of the health and economic benefits of efficient prescribing. I have taken steps to initiate consultation with the medical profession in Scotland on the issue of a memorandum to all doctors in the National Health Service on the subject of precribing costs, and the preparation of a health education programme aimed at achieving realistic attitudes and expectations among doctors and the public towards medicines and prescriptions.