§ Mr. McMasterTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the prescription of(a) evening primrose oil and (b) other homeopathic medicines by the national health service.
§ Mr. Allan StewartOne evening primrose oil product is licensed by the licensing authority for the treatment of atopic eczema and is prescribable on the NHS for that purpose. No evening primrose oil preparation has satisfied the licensing requirements of safety and efficacy for any other medical condition.
The Advisory Committee on Borderline Substances advises the Health Departments as to the circumstances in which unlicensed products may be regarded as drugs and has considered the unlicensed evening primrose oil products, which are generally regarded as food supplements, but has not been satisfied that they have any therapeutic use. They have therefore been prohibited for prescription on the NHS. Evening primrose oil is not a homeopathic medicine.
The use of homeopathic treatments is a matter for decision by individual doctors. Doctors in contract with the national health service can provide these treatments for their patients in the same way as with allopathic medicines.