§ Dr. TongeTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to inform the public of the decision by the Committee on the Safety of Medicines on the safety of the third generation contraceptive pill. [81035]
§ Ms JowellAn announcement was made to the media on 7 April 1999 giving details of the outcome of the review by the Medicines Commission of "third generation" combined oral contraceptive pills, containing gestodene or desogestrel, and the risk of venous thrombo-embolism. Copies of the announcement have been placed in the Library.
Doctors and other family planning health practitioners were informed about the Medicines Commission via an Epinet message on 7 April. This included an information sheet for them to give to patients. The next edition of the bulletin Current Problems in Pharmacovigilance, which will appear on the Medicines Control Agency's web site, will also provide information for doctors and pharmacists.
Patient information leaflets supplied with third generation combined oral contraceptives containing the new advice are expected from mid-year onwards.