Hepatitis C Virus (Hansard, 20 December 1994)

§ Mr. Gunnell
To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many HCV tests are given annually by the NHS.

§ Mr. Sackville
The number of tests for hepatitis C virus conducted by the national health service for diagnostic purposes is not available centrally.

§ Mr. Gunnell
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what additional costs will be incurred on HCV testing following the High Court decision on HCV ownership.

§ Mr. Dowd
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the estimated cost to the national health service of being unable to buy hepatitis C virus testing kits from Murex Diagnostics.

§ Mr. Sackville
The cost effects on HCV testing should be minimal, as the costs of the kits remaining on the market are comparable to those which are now withdrawn.

§ Mr. Gunnell
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what consideration she has given to the High Court decision that the hepatitis C virus is owned by an American company.

§ Mr. Sackville
The High Court decision related to patent rights for hepatitis C virus test kits. All current manufacturers of such test kits are in overseas ownership. We are satisfied that there will continue to be an adequate supply of test kits to the United Kingdom, and that continuing competition will ensure that these kits are supplied on a value-for-money basis.

§ Mr. Gunnell
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what new arrangements will be needed for HCV testing following the High Court decision on HCV ownership.

§ Mr. Dowd
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what arrangements have been made to obtain hepatitis C virus kits since Murex Diagnostics has been prevented from doing so.

§ Mr. Sackville
In some cases centres will need to establish a different source of supply for HCV test kits following the High Court decision on patent rights for such kits. Two existing kits will no longer be available, but there will continue to be an adequate supply of good quality HCV test kits from three manufacturers which will still be competing for the United Kingdom market.

§ Mr. Dowd
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what are the names of the companies which supplied hepatitis C virus testing kits before Murex Diagnostics was prevented from doing so; and what are the names of those which have supplied them since.

§ Mr. Sackville
Ortho Diagnostic Systems Ltd., Abbot Laboratories Ltd., Organon Teknika Ltd., and Murex Diagnostics previously supplied such test kits to the United Kingdom market until the recent High Court decision relating to patent rights. Ortho and Abbott continue to supply, and Sanofi Diagnostics Pasteur Ltd. has recently entered the market, also under licence.