§ Mr. Gryllsasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the ratio of medicines inspectors to production facilities within the United Kingdom; and what information he has on comparable ratios in other countries that are signatories to the pharmaceutical inspection convention, including the United States of America and Canada.
§ Mr. HayhoeIn the United Kingdom medicines inspectors inspect production facilities of licensed pharmaceutical manufacturers and of National Health Service hospitals. The ratio of inspectors to production facilities within the United Kingdom is 1:45.
Information on the ratio of inspectors to production facilities in other states which are signatories to the pharmaceutical inspection convention and the United States of America and Canada must be viewed with 297W caution because of considerable differences in duties of inspectors and the legislative framework within which inspectors operate in those countries and the range and type of production facilities that are inspected. On the basis of information available to this Department, the following rough estimate has been prepared.
Pharmaceutical Inspection Convention States Austria 1 to 55 Inspectors also inspect community pharmacies. Denmark 1 to 40 Inspectors also inspect community pharmacies and undertake registration work. Hungary 1 to 25 Ireland 1 to 25 Norway 1 to 3 Inspectors also inspect community pharmacies and undertake registration work. Sweden 1 to 14 Inspectors also inspect community pharmacies. Switzerland 1 to 25 Includes a significant number of part-time Inspectors. Non Pharmaceutical Inspection Convention Stales USA 1 to 8 Canada 1 to 8