§ Mr. Nigel EvansTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures are being taken to reduce the cost of the national health service drugs bill; and if she will make a statement.
§ Dr. MawhinneyWe are taking a number of measures which we hope will reduce the rate of growth in the national health service drugs bill while ensuring that people get the medicines they need. These include action to ensure that general practitioners have full information about their prescribing and how it compares with that of others; to provide GPs with advice on effective prescribing and to encourage them to prescribe generic rather than branded drugs. The GP fund-holding scheme provides incentives for doctors to prescribe economically and incentive schemes are being introduced for GPs who are not fund holders.
We are seeking to constrain drug costs through the pharmaceutical price regulation scheme, which is currently being renegotiated, and by the extension of the selected list scheme from seven to 17 therapeutic categories.
§ Dr. Goodson-WickesTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what proposals he has for legislation to determine 377W the Government's liability for civil damages in cases of adverse reaction to a drug where a product licence has been reinstated on appeal following its suspension by the licensing authority.
§ Mr. SackvilleNone.