§ Mr. BerminghamTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he has any proposals to review the pharmaceutical price regulation scheme; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. FreemanThe revised pharmaceutical price regulation scheme, which began in October 1986, was scheduled to operate for six years, although provision is made for an interim review at the request of either party (Government or industry) after not less than three years. That stage has not yet been reached.
§ Mr. BerminghamTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he intends to make publication of specific budget targets in respect of prescription pricing policy; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. FreemanThe Prescription Pricing Authority, in common with other health authorities, is set a cash limit each year and this is published in the supply estimates. The next estimates will be published in March.
§ Mr. BerminghamTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if there are any proposals to improve international comparisons on pharmaceutical products pricing policy to the standard of the United Kingdom PACT in the light of 1991; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. FreemanThe European Commission intends to compile a data bank containing prices of medicines in different member states. On that, I have nothing to add to the reply by my hon. and learned Friend of 26 January to my hon. Friend the Member for Bristol, East (Mr. Sayeed) at column 712. The purpose of the PACT system is to provide NHS general medical practitioners with detailed information about their prescribing patterns and costs.