§ Mr. Meacherasked the Secretary of State for Social Services why the National Health Service purchases diazepam from Hoffman La Roche under the trade name Valium when the generic equivalent is available at almost half the price.
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§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeWe continue to encourage the prescribing of generic drugs, but the final decision is in the hands of the doctor as to whether the branded drug, Valium, or its generic equivalent is prescribed. The British National Formulary, which is distributed to all prescribing doctors, contains guidance on the prescription of drugs of this kind, together with relative costs of the different presentations.