§ Mr. Lawrenceasked the Secretary of State for Social Services when the possibility of making Naudicelle capsules available on prescription to multiple sclerosis sufferers was last considered by his Department; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MoyleThe circumstances in which substances of a primarily nutritional nature may be regarded as"drugs ", and therefore prescribable by168W family doctors at National Health Service expense, are kept under review by the advisory committee on borderline substances, an independent body of professional advisers. The chairman of the advisory committee is at present considering the evidence of a recent clinical trial of dietary supplements, including Naudicelle capsules, in the management of multiple sclerosis, which was conducted at a hospital in the North-East and was referred to by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State in the Adjournment debate on 8 May 1978.—[Vol. 949, c. 730–44.]
Preliminary assessments suggest that the trial has not produced the sort of evidence which might cause the advisory committee to vary its present recommendation, which is that there is at present insufficient evidence to justify regarding dietary supplements containing linoleic acid or its derivatives, such as Naudicelle, as having any therapeutic effect in the management of multiple sclerosis.