§ Mr. Pavittasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many brand name drugs are used in the family practitioner service of the National Health Service in each of the categories known by the generic names of codeine, colchicine, conjugated oestrogens, diazepam, and digoxin.
§ Mr. Geoffrey FinsbergThe number of brand name products used in the family practitioner services with the same formulation of active ingredients as those listed is as follows:
Name Number Codeine 0 Colchicine 0 Conjugated Oestrogens 1 Diazepam 5 Digoxin 2 This information is based on prescriptions written in England during 1981.
§ Mr. Brothertonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps are taken to advise National Health Service patients of the possible side effects of drugs prescribed.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeTreatment cards containing useful information and advice are available for patients under treatment with oral anticoagulants, cortico-steroids and monoamine-oxidase inhibitors. In addition, a label warning about drowsiness is supplied to some patients taking antihistamines. Generally, however, it is for each doctor to exercise his clinical judgment as to what information should be given to individual patients.
§ Mr. Pavittasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will take steps to have advice on the relative prices of related drugs in future editions of "The British National Formulary".
§ Mr. Geoffrey Finsberg"The British National Formulary" is published jointly by the British Medical Association and the Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain, which are responsible for its contents. It already includes price bandings for cost comparison purposes.
§ Dr. Roger Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether, in the light of the view expressed by members of the medical profession that his recently announced proposals for a new code of practice for drug trials in general practice are inadequate, he will reconsider his proposals in order to ensure that the methods by which the independence element in such trials is safeguarded is sufficiently impartial.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeThe code has been drawn up by the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry in close consultation with the British Medical Association, the Royal College of General Practitioners and our Department. As it has not yet been published, it may be that its critics are ill-informed about its contents. Whilst every detail of the code when published may not prove to be to everyone's satisfaction, I have no doubt that it will be recognised as a very significant step in the right direction.