Written question asked by Huw Irranca-Davies (Labour) on Wednesday, 14 March 2012, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 19 March 2012. It was answered by Simon Burns (Conservative) on Monday, 19 March 2012 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Prescription Drugs

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 5 March 2012, Official Report, column 625W, on pharmacy: databases, for what reasons his Department does not maintain its own list of branded medicines in short supply.

Answer: The Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee collates reports from pharmacy contractors on medicines that they have had difficulty sourcing and publishes the Branded Shortages List on their website:"www.psnc.org.uk/pages/problem_medicines_list.html"The Department carefully monitors shortages of medicines but does not systematically collect information on all shortages. We are cautious about placing additional data return burdens on pharmacists.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 100775; 542 c563W
Session: 2010-12
Related items: Pharmacy: Databases
Monday, 5 March 2012
Written questions
House of Commons
Subjects: Prescription drugs Shortages
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk