Elizabeth Woodeson explains there has been no rush to use the price setting powers as the UK government is considering other ways of encouraging competition.

For example a higher price could be offered to new entrants, she says.

The UK government official says we should not be looking solely at imposing a price, because getting it wrong could result in the drug could be removed from the market which would be a disaster for the patient.

We need to tread really carefully here to get the right balance she adds.

The chief pharmaceutical officer says 80% of prescribing through the NHS is for generic drugs, which has saved a lot of money.

Tory MSP Miles Briggs wonders if the MHRA has any power to encourage manufacturers to submit applications.

The MHRA operates primarily on applications from pharmaceutical companies to bring drugs to the UK market, whether generic or branded, replies Mr Mogford.

He says the MHRA ensures this process runs as smoothly and quickly as it can, rather than actively encouraging applications.

Ms Woodeson says there have been cases of extremely steep and unjustified rises in the price of generic drugs.

However overall the price of generics compares favourably with comparable OECD countries, she adds.

Broadly the system of competition in the generics market is working and we get a good deal, the UK government official argues.

A generic drug is a pharmaceutical drug that contains the same chemical substance as a drug that was originally protected under chemical patents.

Ms Woodeson says the UK government did take the price setting powers and explains there is a lot of active consideration and consultation going on in this area.

Prof Parr says electronic data can help transfers between health and social care systems become more seamless by creating single patient records.

This would help more people live at home or in a homely setting, she explains.

Image source, bbc

Jonathan Mogford from the MHRA tells the committee the licensing process ensures the claims about drugs are backed by evidence.

Mr Mogford says clinicians and patients must understand the nature of the products being used.

Rose Marie Parr says HEPMA is not happening quickly enough.

HEPMA, external is the Hospital Electronic Prescribing and Medicines Administration (HEPMA) system.

Here is the Scottish government's good practice guide for implementing an electronic prescribing and medicines administration system, external.

Image source, Getty Images

The ‘supply and demand for medicines inquiry’ looks at the increasing cost of medicines for Scotland’s NHS.

The committee is seeking to find out how medicine usage can be improved and waste reduced, with estimates suggesting anywhere from 15% to 50% of prescriptions go to waste.

The growth in expenditure on drugs in Scotland is outstripping the growth in total NHS expenditure in both primary and secondary care:

Average year on year growth rate in hospital and primary care costs between 2012/13 and 2018/19:

• Hospital drug costs 6.6%
• All hospital costs 1.5%
• Primary care drug costs 3.6%
• All primary care costs 2.3%

Source: ISD Scotland, Health Costs Book, tables R600

Ms Woodeson says the value of the medicine is taken into account by NICE and SMC assessments.

Prof Parr suggests more "real world" data should be captured on how medicines work on different sections of the population and she highlights the cancer medicines outcome programme, external as a positive example of this.

She says we know the adage "a pill for every ill" is not true and she goes on to highlight the importance of self-care.

Prescribing must be effective and efficient, Prof Parr argues, saying the SMC ensure this at population level but individual prescribers must be guided in that at the personal level.

The chief pharmaceutical officer calls for greater systems for medication review.

Prof Parr says the licensing and price of medicines is a reserved matter for the UK.

She explains the money coming back from the industry goes directly back into the new medicines fund.

Tory MSP Brian Whittle asks if we should be moving towards value based pricing.

Access to medicines is very important but the narrative must be turned to outcomes and health gains, replies the chief pharmaceutical officer.

Data tracking is better in primary care than in hospital she adds.

Lib Dem MSP Alex Cole-Hamilton raises discrepancies in the price of some medicines, such as cancer drugs, between the four nations of the UK.

Elizabeth Woodeson explains the aim is to have the same price for the same drugs across the UK, but this does not always happen depending on the type of deal.

Scotland could choose to do a different deal on an individual product and that is allowed within the rules of the scheme in place, she adds.

We do not track what deals have been done, Ms Woodeson states.

Scotland's chief pharmaceutical officer Rose Marie Parr says we know medicines are the most commonly used healthcare interventions.

They are among the most scrutinised, particularly since the Thalidomide scandal, she adds.

Thalidomide was used to treat morning sickness but was linked to children being born with physical deformities in the 1950s and 1960s.

Prof Parr says the systems around cost and clinical effectiveness serve us well.

The health gain must be looked at she says.

Committee convener Lewis Macdonald asks whether price regulation schemes are serving the NHS well, given the rising amount being spent on medicines.

Elizabeth Woodeson from the UK government says the latest figures now show medicine spend flatlining or even slightly reducing.

But she accepts spend on medicines has grown in recent years.

Spend is capped on branded medicines so this cannot grow more than 2% she tells the committee, with industry having to pay back the NHS on anything above this.

We do believe that is an effective mechanism, she concludes.

Image source, bbc

Health committee convener Lewis Macdonald welcomes the first panel of witnesses:

• Scotland's Chief Pharmaceutical Officer Rose Marie Parr
• Elizabeth Woodeson, director of medicines and pharmacy with the Department of Health and Social Care at the UK government
• Jonathan Mogford from theUK government's Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency, external

The Health and Sport Committee, external will shortly begin its supply and demand for medicines inquiry.

MSPs will take evidence from:

• Scotland's Chief Pharmaceutical Officer Rose Marie Parr
• Elizabeth Woodeson, director of medicines and pharmacy with the Department of Health and Social Care at the UK government
• Jonathan Mogford from the UK government's Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency, external

Image source, Thinkstock

and then from:

• Alison Culpan from The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry, external
• Warwick Smith from the British Generic Manufacturers Association, external
• Martin Sawer from the Healthcare Distribution Association, external

and then from:

• Dr Alan Macdonald from the Scottish Medicines Consortium, external
• Lindsay McClure from Medicines Pricing and Supply at the NHS National Services Scotland, external
• Matt Barclay from Community Pharmacy Scotland, external
• Dr Brian Montgomery, Author of the Review of Access to New Medicines, external

• Here's the committee papers, external
• Read all the written submissions received for this inquiry, external

Image source, Getty Images

Good morning and welcome to BBC Scotland Holyrood Live's coverage of the Scottish Parliament on 21 January 2020.

Here's what's happening at Holyrood today:

9.30am: The health committee will take evidence on the supply and demand for medicines

2.05pm: Topical questions will see queries about the Police Scotland budget and HIAL air traffic control

2.20-2.50pm: Ministerial Statement: The Strategy for Our Veterans – Taking the Strategy Forward

Image source, PA Wire

2.50-5.45pm:Stage 3 Proceedings: Scottish National Investment Bank

5.45pm:Members’ Business: Joan McAlpine – Robert Burns in the Scottish Economy