HC Deb 10 December 1984 vol 69 cc381-4W
Mr. Michael Morris

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services to which section of his Department representations about the limited list of drugs should be made.

Mr. Kenneth Clarke

Written comments should be addressed to: Branch FPS1A, Department of Health and Social Security, Room 619, Eileen House, 80–94 Newington Causeway, London SE1 6EF.

Mrs. Ann Winterton

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will list in the Official Report those pharmaceutical products which he is currently considering placing on the limited list of medications which may be prescribed by doctors for patients under the National Health Service;

(2) if he will list in the Official Report the names of those medications for minor ailments which are currently available for prescription on the National Health Service but which he is considering not including on the recently-announced limited product prescription list;

(3) how many prescriptions were issued in the last year for which figures are available of each of those medicines for minor ailments which he is considering not including on the recently-announced limited product prescription list;

(4) how many of those preparations currently listed in the British National Formulary will not be available for prescription under the National Health Service under the proposals for a limited list which he is currently considering; and what this figure is as a percentage:

(5) how many generic preparations currently prescribed under the National Health Service in (a) the tranquilliser, sedative and hypnotic classifications and (b) for the treatment of mild to moderate pain will not be available for prescription under the proposals which he is currently considering for the drawing up of a limited list of drugs acceptable for National Health Service prescribing.

Mr. Kenneth Clarke

We will not finally decide which drugs will no longer be prescribable at public expense through the National Health Service until after our consultation with the medical and pharmaceutical professions, and the drugs industry, is complete. We have published, as a basis for that consultation, a provisional list of medicines that will remain available in the categories of drugs affected by our proposals. It is as follows:

Provisional List of Medicines remaining available for prescription on the National Health Service

Antacids

  • Aluminium Hydroxide Mixture BP
  • Aluminium Hydroxide Tablets BP
  • Compound Magnesium Trisilicate Oral Powder BP
  • Compound Sodium Bicarbonate Tablets (Soda Mint Tablets) BP
  • Magnesium Trisilicate Mixture BP

Laxatives

  • Glycerol Suppositories BP
  • Methylcellulose Granules BP

Inhalations

  • Menthol & Benzoin Inhalation BP

Antitussives

  • Codeine Linctus BP
  • Diamorphine Linctus BPC 1973
  • Methadone Linctus BP
  • Pholcodeine Linctus BP
  • Paediatric Simple Linctus BPC 1973
  • Simple Linctus BP

Analgesics for Mild to Moderate Pain

  • Aspirin Tablets BP
  • Dispersible Aspirin Tablets BP
  • Paediatric Dispersible Aspirin Tablets BP
  • Paracetamol Tablets BP
  • Paediatric Paracetamol
  • Elixir BP

Vitamins

  • Ascorbic Acid Tablets BP
  • Calciferol Solution BP
  • Thiamine Hydrochloride Tablets BP
  • Nicotinic Acid Tablets BP
  • High Strength Calciferol Tablets BP
  • Pyridoxine Hydrochloride Tablets BP
  • Vitamins A-D Capsules BPC 1973
  • Vitamin Capsules (Vita minorum Capsules) BPC 1973

Tonics and Bitters

  • Alkaline Gentian Mixture BP

Benzodiazepine Sedatives and Tranquillisers

  • Diazepam
  • Nitrazepam
  • Temazepam

Other Therapeutic Groups

  • All Drugs.

Mrs. Ann Winterton

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish a comparison of the prices of those products which he is currently considering placing on the limited list of medications which may be prescribed by doctors for patients under the National Health Service with the cost of their most widely-prescribed brand-name equivalents.

Mr. Kenneth Clarke

I will reply to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

Mrs. Ann Winterton

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has received recently from the Dispensing Doctors Association concerning his proposals to limit prescriptions under the National Health Service to those preparations on a more limited list.

Mr. Kenneth Clarke

I have received one letter from the Dispensing Doctors Association.

Mrs. Ann Winterton

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if, following the implementation of his proposals for limited list prescribing under the National Health Service, a revised edition of the British National Formulary will be issued omitting those preparations which are not included on the limited list.

Mr. Kenneth Clarke

The British National Formulary is a joint publication of the British Medical Association and the Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain. Questions about the content of future editions of this publication should be addressed to those bodies.

Mrs. Ann Winterton

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what consideration has been given to the particular needs of those living in rural areas who make use of dispensing doctors to obtain brand-name products or medications for minor ailments which will not be included on the limited list which he is now considering.

Mr. Kenneth Clarke

These matters will be fully considered during our consultation with the medical and pharmaceutical professions and the drugs industry. It will not be clinically necessary to prescribe a drug in the relevant therapeutic category that is not on the limited list if we achieve, after consultation, our aim of ensuring that the list contains an adequate range.

Mrs. Renée Short

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will take steps to ensure that after the introduction of limited list prescribing, patients suffering from pernicious anaemia will continue to have access to vitamin B-12 under the National Health Scheme.

Mr. Kenneth Clarke

The prescribing of vitamin B-12 on the National Health Service will not be affected by our limited list proposals.

Mrs. Renée Short

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will establish within his Department a round-the-clock information service to assist doctors in reaching a decision as to whether to prescribe a generic or a proprietary drug.

Mr. Kenneth Clarke

I forsee absolutely no need to establish such a service. Information on any aspect of drug therapy is already available to all doctors in the National Health Service, free of charge, from regional and district drug information services. Decisions of the kind described in the question should be within the competence of any qualified doctor.

Mr. Greenway

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he intends to consult representatives of the pharmaceutical industry regarding the consequences of the Government's decision to introduce a limited list of generic drugs for the treatment of certain therapeutic conditions under the National Health Service.

Mr. Kenneth Clarke

I wrote to the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry on 8 November. I am meeting representatives of the association this week.

Mr. Hancock

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what consultations he held with the British Medical Association before the recent announcement on the introduction of limited list prescription.

Mr. Kenneth Clarke

We did not consult with the British Medical Association before reaching a decision based on our detailed investigations of the experience of other countries, on the principle of the limited list. However, we have invited the BMA to consult with us on the contents of the proposed list.