HC Deb 21 November 1984 vol 68 cc204-5W
Mr. Meacher

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what could be the saving per year to the National Health Service budget if generic prescribing were extended to all drugs.

Mr. John Patten

[pursuant to his reply, 19 November 1984, c. 71]: If doctors were required to prescribe generically wherever possible the potential savings, based on present relative prices of generic and branded drugs, are estimated at about £35 million a year in England.