§ Mr. Cryerasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what means he proposes to employ to prevent the use of phenacetin in certain circumstances until the application of the Medicines (Phenacetin) Prohibition Order 1979.
597W
§ Dr. VaughanThe order under section 62 of the Medicines Act was made on 27 September 1979 and comes into operation on 27 March 1980. With certain exceptions, the use of phenacetin in medicinal products will be prohibited from that date. The hazards associated with long-term use are fully described in medical literature and all the evidence is that there is no question of acute toxicity. No special interim arrangements are therefore proposed. As the prohibition date approaches, the availability of existing products will taper-off, and doctors will be prescribing alternatives except where, in their clinical opinion, phenacetin is appropriate for a particular patient.