PHARMACEUTICAL WHOLESALE DISTRIBUTION

Early day motion 615, tabled 11 January 2007 by Eric Illsley (Labour). Signed by 51 members.

That this House is concerned at recent moves by pharmaceutical manufacturers, including Pfizer, Astra Zeneca and others, to exercise greater control over the demand and supply of their products throughout the United Kingdom; believes that the existing full-line wholesaling sector, largely on behalf of the National Health Service, has successfully distributed any medicine to any pharmacy, hospital or dispensing doctor, as required, since the creation of the NHS; is accordingly very concerned that these developments by pharmaceutical manufacturers could have a detrimental effect on the ability of patients to receive their medicines when needed; considers that this could be particularly relevant when coping with emergencies, such as during a flu pandemic or after a terrorist attack; notes that supply co-operation between wholesalers has so far provided a resilience and robustness for NHS pharmaceutical supplies which is now under threat; and calls on the Office of Fair Trading and the Department of Health urgently to investigate the effects of these proposals on the daily supply of life-saving medicines to patients in the UK, before a patient unnecessarily goes without a medicine.

Signatures by party: Labour 31, Liberal Democrat 8, DUP 5, Conservative 3, Scottish National Party 2, Social Democratic and Labour Party 2.