§ Dr. Roger Thomasasked the Secretary of State for the Social Services if he will study the techniques used in Holland of informing doctors and chemists regularly of market developments and giving advice regarding the availability of cheaper but equally effective alternative medications, with a view to helping to reduce the National Health Service drug bill where this is possible without detrimental effects upon patients.
§ Dr. VaughanThe hon. Member may be referring to the advisory document produced by the Central Medical and Pharmaceutical Commission of the Netherlands Sick Fund Council. This informs doctors of the comparative cost of different versions of the same preparation and offers specific prescribing advice.
The hon. Member will know that similar information is carried by the new edition of the British National Formulary (BNF) which was published on 9 February by the joint formulary committee of the British Medical Association and the Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain. The completely revised format of this edition includes a wider range of preparations than previously, more comprehensive prescribing notes and an indication of the comparative costs of available preparations. Preparations which for any reason are not recommended by the joint formulary committee appear in smaller type. The BNF will appear twice yearly, and I have arranged for it to be distributed free of charge within the National 340W Health Service. I have also arranged for a copy of the first issue of this new edition to be placed in the Library of the House.
The Department continues to take a number of other measures aimed at encouraging effectiveness and economy in prescribing without detriment to patient care: included among these are cost comparison charts, which indicate the relative cost of alternative forms of treatment, both by approved and brand name.