NHS: Drugs

Anne Milton
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received from manufacturers of medical consumables on the classification of their products by his Department; what steps he plans to take in response; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Bradshaw
Following publication of “Arrangements under the Part IX of the Drug Tariff for the provision of stoma and incontinence appliances and related services to Primary Care revised proposals” on 6 September 2007, the Department received a number of representations that indicated that some errors highlighted in the item classification table in the November 2006 consultation had not been corrected in the latest published consultation document.

In summary, 478 editorial changes have been requested; the majority could be considered errors, for example incorrect reference codes.

In addition, 124 omissions have been identified mainly as a result of companies change of ownership during the course of this consultation.

These will be corrected when the classification is revisited.