§ Ms PrimaroloTo ask the Secretary of State for Health when she plans to announce a new pharmaceutical price regulation scheme agreement.
§ Mr. SackvilleAfter several months of negotiation, the Department of Health and the Association of the British 695W Pharmaceutical Society agreed the terms of a draft agreement on 10 August 1993. The draft agreement was then circulated for consultation to all companies selling branded prescription medicines to the national health service, and, with their consent, the Association of British Pharmaceutical Industries endorsed the agreement on 26 August.
The agreement came into force on 1 October 1993 and is intended to run for five years. Copies will be placed in the Library.
Details of the draft agreement and of its endorsement were announced in press releases from the Department on 10 August and 26 August. Copies of these press releases, H93/909 and H93/933, are available in the Library.