§ Mr. Michael Morrisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether there is any evidence from limited list schemes elsewhere that delays in diagnosis may occur as a result, with the consequent prescribing of more expensive remedies.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeThe only report we have seen on this issue concerns the West German diagnosis-related limited list. Our limited list proposals will ensure that a fully effective range of drugs is available for all conditions at National Health Service expense, and so there will be no reason for delays in diagnosis.
§ Mr. Michael Morrisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what information he has on the efficiency of the monitoring system which exists in Germany to oversee the medical impact of the limited list scheme;
(2) what assessment he has made of the cost savings achieved by the German scheme for a limited list.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeWe studied the limited list schemes in a number of countries, including Germany, before drawing up our own rather different limited list proposals. We have made no assessment of savings from overseas schemes. That is a matter for the Governments concerned.
§ Mr. Baldryasked the Secretary of State for Social Services which royal colleges have indicated support for the Government's limited list drug proposals; and how that support has been indicated.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeIn a letter toThe Times of 15 January 1985 the president of the Royal College of Physicians, Professor Sir Raymond Hoffenberg, indicated that three royal colleges support the principle underlying the Government's proposals. These were his own college and two others.