§ Mr. AshleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what information he has given to the medical profession regarding the reasons for the withdrawal of Opren's product licence; and if advice was given on the side effects that were thought to be associated with the drug and the periods of time for which they might last.
§ Mr. NewtonAll doctors and pharmacists were sent a letter from the chairman of the Committee on Safety of Medicines following the suspension of the product licence for Opren on 4 August 1982, giving the reasons for this action and advice. The letter drew attention to the numbers and types of reaction associated with Opren which had been reported, but not their duration. A copy of the letter is in the Library.
§ Mr. AshleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will seek advice from his medical advisers as to whether there are any circumstances in which they would recommend that Opren be prescribed for individual patients now that its product licence has been withdrawn.
§ Mr. NewtonIndividual doctors in consultation with their patients are best placed to decide what should be prescribed in individual cases.