§ Mr. HammondTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what category D drugs are currently not readily available in the United Kingdom; and what assessment he has made of the consequent impact on the percentage of generic drugs in the total prescribing mix. [92135]
§ Mr. DenhamFor every drug which has been placed in category D of part VIII of the Drug Tariff it has been established that, at a particular point in time, community pharmacies in England and Wales may not be able to buy stock at the Drug Tariff price. However, we have no evidence at present of supplies being unavailable from any source, or of patients being unable to obtain the medicines that they need.
The pattern of drugs dispensed should not affect the proportion of prescriptions written generically.