§ Sir Michael McNair-WilsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health when his Department first became aware that high dosages of steroids had serious and lasting side-effects; and what action was taken to make this information known to general practitioners and hospitals.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyA number of serious diseases require long-term treatment with steroids. The side-effects of long-term treatment have been well known for many years, and the British National Formulary sent to all prescribers by the Department free of charge, has carried warnings to this effect since 1966. Licensing of medicinal products under the Medicines Act started in 1971, and companies promoting medicines to doctors are required to provide individual product data sheets which include appropriate information on warnings, contraindications and side-effects.