asked the Minister for Health if he is prepared to set up a drug licensing board to examine and verify or recheck by chemical analysis and clinical trial the efficacy of each new drug introduced into this country.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Efficacy of New Drugs.
62.
The question of extending the scope of our drug control arrangements is at present receiving my attention but it is necessary to ensure that any changes to be made will be appropriate both to the needs and to the resources of this country.
Arrangements for monitoring each new drug introduced into this country as respects its safety in use are being operated by the National Drugs Advisory Board and, at my request, they are also considering proposals for a suitable scheme of quality control generally. I expect that their recommendations in this matter will be submitted to me in the near future.
With a view to effecting economies in the health services my Department some years ago drew up a schedule of proprietary preparations showing, in respect of each such preparation, an item included in the Department's Prescribed and Special Lists of Medicines which is either of identical composition or of reputed analogous therapeutic efficacy. This schedule was circulated to all doctors in the health services for reference when prescribing. In addition, health authorities have been repeatedly urged to make available to their medical staffs copies of the "Prescribers' Journal" which is a useful aid to effective and economic prescribing.
Surely the Minister is aware that many new drugs are coming on the market every year, that there is much overlap and that the medical profession depend to a very large extent on the information supplied by the manufacturers. Would the Minister not think that a licensing board should be set up which could analyse and test different drugs and ensure that what manufacturers state as regards those drugs is correct? I have been informed by a medical officer of health — I am mentioning no names — that very often there is an inclination to issue the same drugs in a different colour and under a different name and that the medical authorities cannot do anything about it. Would the Minister not think that is a sufficient reason for setting up a licensing board which would prove to the medical profession and to the ordinary people that what the manufacturer was saying was true?
The function of the Drugs Advisory Board is to advise generally on the safety and quality of drugs. The only thing about all this is that if they are satisfied the drug itself is efficient it is then left to the doctor to prescribe and ultimately test the drug.
Does the Minister not think that this is a good reason for setting up a drug licensing board?
Those drugs are not tested here. They are tested in England.
I asked for a drug licensing board?
That is a different question.
It is in this question. Could we not set up some body to test drugs?
The imported drugs are tested.
Does the Minister not realise that the effect of many drugs is not known until afterwards? We are aware what happened in regard to the thalidomide drug. Drugs are imported but their effects are not known until some people here have been used as guinea pigs. Therefore, why not have this licensing board to test the drugs before they are put on the market here?
The testing of the drugs is not done in this country. It is done in Great Britain.
That is why I am asking to have this licensing board set up.
In view of the very large amount of samples which drug people seem to be able to supply to anybody and everybody who might be interested, could the Minister explain why the cost of drugs is so great and is he aware that one of the causes of the steep increase in rates this year is the cost of new drugs which are coming on the market?
There is nothing in this question about the cost of drugs.