Health Bill [HL]

My Lords, since Grand Committee I have consulted widely—and indeed internationally, as I was recently in the medical world in the United States of America. Noble Lords may have noticed that I have changed this amendment since Grand Committee to suggest that a drug costing more than £10 should have its value clearly marked on the packet. The objective of the amendment—some noble Lords may remember that I tried to move it during the passage of the previous Health Bill in 2006—is to ensure that the patient realises what value for money they are getting which, I strongly believe, would encourage them to finish the prescription and thus save having repeat prescriptions. That in turn would save money. Another school of thought suggests that general practitioners would be encouraged to prescribe a cheaper drug at a higher dosage instead of a more expensive drug at a lower dosage. That, too, would save money. I beg to move.