Written Answers To Questions
Friday, 2nd November, 1956
Ministry Of Health
Prescriptions
asked the Minister of Health if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table consolidating the conclusions reached in the two official investigations, details of which were published in May, 1955, and April, 1956, into the comparative costs of national formulary and proprietary preparations ordered on National Health Service prescriptions, simply showing the total number of proprietary preparations costed, and what total percentages of these were cheaper
| Date of statement | Number of proprietary preparations costed | Cheaper than standard equivalent (Note 1) | Same cost as standard equivalent | No equivalent (Note 2) | |||
| Per cent. | Per cent. | Per cent. | |||||
| May, 1955 | … | … | … | 312 | 22 | 2½ | 47½ |
| April, 1956 | … | … | … | 326 | 20 | 2 | 51 |
| NOTES: | |||||||
| 1. In the great majority of these cases the ingredient cost of the proprietary preparation is higher than that of the standard preparation. The lower total cost is due to the basis on which chemists' dispensing fees are distributed. | |||||||
| 2. A few of these preparations have been classified by an independent advisory committee as of proved therapeutic value, but not yet standard, and a few have not yet been considered. The majority have been classified as not therapeutically superior to standard preparations. | |||||||
Hospital, Plymouth (New Operating Theatres)
asked the Minister of Health what progress has been made with the plans for the new operating theatres at the South Devon and East Cornwall Hospital, Greenbank Road, Plymouth ; and when building work is likely to start.
I expect to receive sketch plans very soon from the South Western Regional Hospital Board but I am not yet able to forecast when building work will start.
Trade And Commerce
Monopolies Commission
asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement concerning the composition, and
than their standard equivalents, had the same cost, or had no equivalents.
I assume that my hon. and gallant Friend refers to the factual statements sent annually to general practitioners in the National Health Service, giving the cost of prescripions for National Formulary preparations, and the cost of a number of proprietary preparations with the cost of any equivalent preparation. Each statement brings the preceding one up to date. A table giving the required information in respect of the statements for May, 1955, and April, 1956, is appended:salaries of the reconstituted Monopolies and Restrictive Practices Commission; and when this body begins its work.
As has already been announced, Mr. Richard Francis Levy, Q.C., has been appointed full-time Chairman of the reconstituted Commission in succession to Sir David Cairns who has given up his appointment at his own request. Mr. Levy's salary will be £4,000 per annum.I have not yet completed the task of appointing the rest of the Commission, but I propose to announce their names and salaries in due course. The new members will start work as soon as possible.