HC Deb 22 April 1993 vol 223 cc169-70W
Mr. Hunter

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what are the terms of reference of the extended advisory committee on drugs.

Dr. Mawhinney

The terms of reference for the Advisory Committee on National Health Service Drugs announced by the Secretary of State for Health on 21 December 1992 areTo advise the UK Health Ministers about the composition of Schedules 10 and 11 of the NHS (General Medical Services) Regulations 1992, and the corresponding Schedules in the Regulations in Scotland and Northern Ireland (except those items which are in such Schedules because the Advisory Committee on Borderline Substances has advised that they should not be treated as drugs for the purpose of the GMS Regulations) in order that drugs to meet all real clinical needs can be provided as economically as possible under the NHS for the following categories and purposes:

  • mild to moderate pain-killers
  • indigestion remedies
  • laxatives
  • cough and cold remedies
  • vitamins
  • tonics
  • benzodiazepine sedatives and tranquillisers
  • anti-diarrhoeal drugs
  • drugs for allergic disorders
  • hypnotics and anxiolytics
  • appetite suppressants
  • drugs for vaginal and vulval conditions
  • contraceptives
  • drugs used in anaemia
  • topical anti-rheumatics
  • drugs acting on the ear and nose
  • drugs acting on the skin
For these purposes a drug will be treated as falling within one of those categories according to the purpose for which it is, or will be, prescribed even if the drug is not licensed for those purposes.