Oral Answers to Questions — Ministry of Health – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 25 March 1957.
asked the Minister of Health whether he will invite the Central Health Services Council to inquire into the advisability of establishing some system of laboratory and hospital testing of new drugs before their use in the National Health Service.
A Joint Committee of the Central and Scottish Health Services Councils already advises on the therapeutic value of new proprietary drugs and preparations, and I think in present circumstances that is as far as we can go.
Does the right hon. Gentleman not feel that with the very large number of new drugs coming on to the market almost every week, some very expensive and some which are challenged in medical circles, it is highly desirable that there should be some proper independent test of a more extensive character than the Committee can provide?
This is a matter which is exercising my mind, and the hon. Member knows that there are certain proposals under consideration, but I think his proposal has far greater implications than he himself realises.
Will the right hon. Gentleman consider it?