Mr. Jacksonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what is his policy on compulsory generic prescribing or substitution for general practitioners;
(2) if he will estimate the effect of compulsory generic substitution on research-based pharmaceutical companies and the estimated public expenditure saving.
§ Mr. NewtonWe have no plans to introduce compulsory generic substitution nor to extend the present arrangements for generic prescribing by general practitioners. Under the selected list scheme some drugs must be prescribed generically. For drugs not covered by the selected list scheme we encourage doctors voluntarily to prescribe by generic name and we shall continue to do so.
The effect of compulsory generic substitution on research-based pharmaceutical companies and on public expenditure would depend on the details of whatever scheme was considered.