HC Deb 09 April 1986 vol 95 cc121-2W
Mr. Tim Smith

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will make it his policy in relation to the limited list to ensure that general practitioners may use the brand name of a drug on a prescription form when the use of its generic name might cause confusion;

pensioners, (b) child benefit, (c) unemployment benefit and (d) supplementary benefits in each of the last seven years, and the total costs which have been incurred as a result of such increments in respect of each benefit.

Mr. Major

Details of the increases in the rates of benefit are contained in "Social Security Statistics 1985" (tables 13.01, 30.01, 1.01B and 34.01), a copy of which is in the Library. The costs of these increases are shown in the table:

(2) whether he will re-examine his policy to promote the prescribing of drugs on the limited list by a generic rather than a branded name where this policy has caused confusion amongst dispensing chemists;

(3) if he will permit general practitioners to prescribe drugs on the limited list by brand name where they enjoy patent protection;

(4) if he will make it his policy in relation to the limited list to ensure that general practitioners may use the brand name of a drug on a prescription form where the drug is the product of British research;

(5) whether he will permit general practitioners to prescribe drugs on the limited list by brand name where no generic equivalent exists.

Mr. Hayhoe

I am not aware of any instances of confusion through use of generic names in the selected list scheme. I am, however, currently reviewing the policy of requiring National Health Service prescription by generic name, where possible, in the light of representations made by pharmaceutical companies whose products have been affected.

Mr. Tim Smith

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make it his policy in relation to the limited list to ensure that, where a dispensing chemist dispenses a drug on the authority of a prescription containing a brand name neither the dispensing chemist nor the prescribing general practitioner will be penalised.

Mr. Hayhoe

National Health Service contractors who write or dispense prescriptions for drugs listed in schedule 3A to the regulations are in breach of their terms of service and it is for their family practitioner committee to determine any action to be taken.