HC Deb 09 March 1993 vol 220 cc480-2W
Ms. Mowlam

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answers of 5 February, to the hon. Member for Bristol, South (Ms. Primarolo),Official Report, columns 376–77, and 11 February, to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Maryhill (Mrs. Fyfe), Official Report, columns 757–59, which brands of oral contraceptives are currently available on prescription; and if she will list (a) the hormone dosages and (b) the cost of a month's supply for Eugynon 50, Minilyn, Minovlar, Minovlar ED, Norimin and Ovulen 50.

Dr. Mawhinney

The brands of oral contraceptives available on prescription are as follows:

Combined Oral Contraceptives

  • Binovum
  • Brevinor
  • Cilest
  • Conova 30
  • Eugynon 30
  • Femodene
  • Femodene ED
  • Loestrin 20
  • Loestrin 30
  • Logynon
  • Logynon ED
  • Marvelon
  • Mercilon
  • Microgynon 30
  • Minulet
  • Neocon 1.35
  • Norimin
  • Norinyl-1
  • Ortho-Novin 1/50
  • Ovran
  • Ovran 30
  • Ovranette
  • Ovysmen
  • Synphase
  • Tiadene
  • Tri-minulet
  • Triordiol
  • Trinovum
  • Trinovum ED

Emergency Contraception

  • Schering PC4

Progesterone-only Contraceptives

  • Femulen
  • Micronor
  • Microval
  • 482
  • Neogest
  • Norgeston
  • Noriday

Eugynon 50, Minilyn, Minovlar, Minovlar ED and Ovulen 50 have been discontinued. The hormone dosages and price of Norimin are as follows:

Active constituents Price (one month's supply)
Norethisterone 1mg. Ethinyloestadiol 35 micrograms 65p

Ms. Walley

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research has been carried out into the side effects of cheaper varieties of the oral contraceptive pill; and if she will make a statement.

Dr. Mawhinney

Before any medicinal product may be marketed in the United Kingdom it is subject to stringent testing for safety, quality, and efficacy to enable a product licence to be granted by the licensing authority. Thereafter the safety of all licensed medicinal products is carefully monitored. Neither the licensing authority nor its advisory committee, the Committee on Safety of Medicines has the remit to take into consideration the cost of a medicine.

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