§ Mr. GaleTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what incentives are contained within the existing hospital formularies system for the development in the United Kingdom of new and improved drugs.
§ Mr. MellorThe existence of hospital formularies is, in itself, an incentive for the development of safer and more effective medicines. Hospital formularies are subject to ongoing review. Drug companies, bearing this in mind, will therefore work towards the production of medicines which meet criteria for hospital use and demonstrate advantages over existing products, to warrant their inclusion in the formularies.
§ Mr. GaleTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to make funds available for the compilation of local drug formularies.
§ Mr. MellorExtra funds have been made available to FPCs from 1989–90 to enable them to carry out their increased responsibilities, as announced in the White Paper "Promoting Better Health". These responsibilities include encouraging the development of local drug formularies.
§ Mr. GaleTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what the effect of European Community directives will be upon the prospects for the introduction of a national United Kingdom formularly for drugs.
§ Mr. MellorWe have no plans to introduce a national formulary. We do however wish to see the continued development of voluntary, local formularies as part of the effort by doctors to achieve more effective and economic prescribing. Such formularies will not be affected by the European Community directives.