§ Mr. Lathamasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) whether he will reinstate fabrol granules on the limited list in the interest of patients with chronic bronchial problems for whom the products currently on the list have proved to be inadequate;
(2) whether he will reclassify the status of bromhexine with regard to the limited list; which non-inhalational mucolytics are currently available on the limited list; and whether he will add bisolvon elixir or tablets to the limited list.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeThe advice of the Government's Chief Medical Officer's group of independent medical and pharmaceutical experts was that Fabrol granules, Bisolvon tablets and elixir (bromhexine hydrochloride) and other similar mucolytic agents were of no established therapeutic value and so should be removed from NHS prescription.
There is a difference of opinion within the medical profession on the value of this group of drugs in the treatment of chronic bronchitis. We are making arrangements for the committee which will review the selected list to consider these drugs at its first meeting. We shall announce details of the committee soon.