HC Deb 22 July 1985 vol 83 cc424-5W
Mr. Carter-Jones

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will ensure that no treatment to kidney patients on dialysis or for kidney transplants are denied medication on the ground of cost; if he will indicate the steps he has taken to reduce the cost of proprietary drugs; if he will give the names of the drugs concerned; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. John Patten

[pursuant to his reply, 19 July 1985]: It is for health authorities, on the advice of patients' clinicians, to decide which medication is to be made available. We do not control the initial pricing of drugs when launched, but subsequent price changes are governed by the extent of the manufacturer's allowed profitability on sales of medicines to the National Health Service under the pharmaceutical price regulation scheme. I understand that Sandoz Products Limited, the manufacturer of cyclosporin, a drug used extensively in the treatment of patients who have received an organ transplant, have stated that it does not intend to apply for departmental approval to increase the price of this product during 1985.

Mr. Carter-Jones

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the number of kidney patients awaiting transplants; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. John Patten

[pursuant to his reply, 19 July 1985]: The number of renal patients in the United Kingdom registered at the United Kingdom transplant service as awaiting a kidney transplant on 30 June 1985 was 3,043. Virtually all of these patients will already be receiving dialysis. Numbers continue to rise despite record numbers of kidney transplant operations performed in 1983 and 1984, since more renal patients have been accepted for treatment by dialysis, and as improvements in surgical and immunosuppressive techniques have meant that more renal patients can be referred as suitable for transplantation. There is a pressing need for more kidneys for transplantation, and the Government are grateful to all those who are helping to publicise this need at present.

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