§ Mr. Fabian HamiltonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what assessment he has made of the likely effect of the Government's proposals for generic medicine pricing on(a) the patient pack and (b) the availability of generic medicines; [121034]
(2) if pharmacists will be reimbursed for stocks of generic medicines bought under the old pricing regime. [121033]
§ Ms StuartOur proposals for setting maximum prices for generic medicines aim to protect the position of the National Health Service by correcting the effect of last year's price increases, while allowing reasonable returns to those in the supply chain. We believe that the proposed new prices, which are currently subject to consultation, should stimulate a good supply of generics, including patient packs, to the NHS.
Community pharmacists, along with other parties in the supply chain, have several months in which they can reduce their stockholdings before the proposed legislation requiring price cuts takes effect. In addition, reimbursement prices will not be brought into line with the new selling prices until the following month, thus providing a further time interval during which stocks can be run down and replaced with new stock at the lower price.