§ Mr. Hancockasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what arrangements have been made for the United Kingdom Medicines Inspectorate to inspect the products of overseas drugs manufacturers for the period after the implementation of limited list prescription.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeThe usual effective arrangements will continue to apply. Manufacturers of all licensed products, whether United Kingdom or overseas-based, are required to ensure that their products conform to acceptable standards of strength, quality and purity and their premises are subject to inspection.
§ Mr. Michael Morrisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services why such a short time has been allowed for consultation over the limited list drugs proposal.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeThe period allowed for consultation is almost three months, which we regard as adequate. We have already received preliminary views from several bodies and expect to have received all substantive comments by 31 January 1985.
§ Mr. Michael Morrisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how the anticipated saving of £100 million from the limited list proposals is calculated in terms of the main categories namely (a) antacids, (b) laxatives, (c) inhalations, (d) anti-tussives, (e) analgesics for mild to moderate pain, (f) vitamins, tonics and bitters and (g) benzodiazepines, sedatives and tranquillisers, respectively.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeThe approximate percentage of the total anticipated savings that will be contributed by each therapeutic group affected by the limited list proposal is as follows:
220W
Per cent. Antacids 17 Laxatives 7
Per cent. Cough and cold remedies 17 Analgesics for mild to moderate pain 30 Vitamins and Tonics 4 Benzodiazepine sedatives and tranquillisers 25 No firm estimates will be possible until the proposals are finalised following consultation.
§ Mr. Michael Morrisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what are the reasons for the proposed limited list being more restrictive than the current hospital formulary drawn up by local therapeutic committees.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeThe Government's proposals aim to provide effective low-cost medicines to meet the clinical needs in a small number of therapeutic categories. If there are differences of significance between these proposals and the 400 or so hospital formularies we would expect these to be reflected in consultation.
§ Mr. Michael Morrisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how new discoveries in fields such as the mild to moderate analgesic market will be treated following the introduction of a limited list scheme;
(2) whether he will allow branded products to continue to be prescribed where there is no accepted generic substitute, although the branded product may be in the limited list;
(3) if he will ensure sufficient safeguards are proposed for the elderly taking a variety of medicines in the limited list which at present are distinctively branded and coloured to enable them to distinguish between different pills in a variety of white and unbrancled packaging;
(4) if dispensing general practitioners will be permitted to prescribe and dispense private prescriptions following the introduction of the limited list;
(5) if he will ensure that arthritic patients unable to take non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs because of gastrointestinal side effects continue to be able to obtain suitable drugs on prescription after the introduction of limited list prescribing.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeThese matters will be fully considered during our consultations with the medical arid pharmaceutical professions and the drugs industry.
§ Mr. Michael Morrisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if it is proposed that a doctor prescribing a branded product for a clinical purpose outside the indication list for limited list products will have to disclose the diagnosis on the form FP10.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeThere is no question of doctors having to give their diagnoses on prescription forms. If a drug is available through the National Health Service under the proposed limited list arrangements doctors will be able to prescribe it whenever appropriate. If it is not available then it will not be prescribable for any condition.
§ Mr. Michael Morrisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will advise family practitioner committees about the effects of his proposals for limited list prescribing on the availability of National Health Service treatment for people suffering from coughs, dyspepsia, pain or bowel function disorders.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeOnce all details of the scheme have been finalised following consultation, family practitioner committees will be advised in the normal way.