Medicine

This page highlights some of the current parliamentary material available on medicine and medical research. This includes select committee reports, briefing papers on current legislation and other subjects produced by the parliamentary research services, and the latest Early Day Motions put down by MPs.

Standard Notes

DateDescription
01.02.2013Nuclear test veterans - compensation
A group of 1,011 services veterans and civilians from the UK, Fiji and New Zealand have attempted to obtain a compensation hearing against the Ministry of Defence relating to alleged illnesses caused by exposure to radiation in nuclear weapons tests during the 1950s. However, in March 2012 the Supreme Court ruled against the Atomic Veterans' case proceeding and the Government says it has no plans to pay compensation.
18.09.2012Homeopathy and the consolidation of UK medicines legislation
In August 2012 UK medicines legislation (including for homeopathy) was consolidated through the Human Medical Regulations. The law was not changed.
14.06.2011Regulation of herbal medicines
This note deals with regulatory changes due to the EU Directive on Traditional Herbal Medicinal Products
10.05.2011Sources of social statistics: Health Services and Public Health
05.10.2010Epilepsy Statistics
A short note summarising prevalence, mortality and prescribing data on epilepsy. Gavin Thompson and Lorna Booth.

Research Papers

DateDescription
27.11.2001Human Reproductive Cloning Bill (HL) (Bill 57 of 2001-02)
Human Reproductive Cloning Bill (HL) (Bill 57 of 2001/02). House of Commons Library Research Paper 01/104
05.10.1999Asbestos
Asbestos. House of Commons Library Research Paper 99/81.

Select Committee Reports

DateDescription
26.07.2010Evidence check: homeopathy.
Government response. Department of Health report [Commons]
08.02.2010Evidence check: homeopathy.
Science and Technology Select Committee report [Commons]
14.12.2009Genomic medicine.
Government response. Department of Health report [Commons and Lords]
03.06.2009Genomic medicine.
Science and Technology Select Committee (HL) report [Lords]

Early Day Motions

DateDescription
09.11.2011ANTIBIOTIC ACTION INITIATIVE
That this House notes the importance of the aims of the Antibiotic Action Initiative of the British Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy that is examining ways to encourage the discovery, ...
05.07.2011ALICE PYNE AND STEM CELL DONATION
That this House notes that about 1,600 patients in the UK are currently in need of a potentially life-saving stem cell transplant; commends Ulverston's Alice Pyne for raising public ...
31.03.2011INDIA - EU FREE TRADE AGREEMENT AND ITS EFFECT ON AFFORDABLE MEDICINES IN THE DEVELOPING WORLD
That this House notes that the Free Trade Agreement currently being negotiated between India and the EU is nearing finalisation; further notes that the EU is pushing for the inclusion ...
17.11.2010WITHDRAWAL OF LEGAL AID FOR EPILEPSY DRUG COURT CASE
That this House notes with regret the decision of the Legal Services Commission to withdraw funding from the claimants in the Fetal Anti-Convulsant Litigation; further notes that the ...
02.11.2010NICE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE DRUGS
That this House notes that dementia is a devastating illness which affects over 800,000 people in the UK, two-thirds of them suffering from Alzheimer's disease and with only about a ...

POST Papers

DateDescription
21.12.2012Plant-made Pharmaceuticals
The use of genetically modified (GM) plants to produce pharmaceutical drugs and vaccines is an emerging technology that offers a low-cost, large-scale alternative to current methods. This POSTnote looks at recent advances in, and the benefits of, the technology, and analyses the associated biosafety and regulatory issues.
16.07.2012Drug Resistant Tuberculosis
This note examines the extent of, and risks posed by, drug-resistant TB.
15.03.2012Personalised Cancer Treatments
Recent technological advances in both diagnostics and therapeutics have the potential to make the treatment of cancer more personalised.
03.10.2011Clinical Trials
This POSTnote summarises some of the most important reasons behind the decline in clinical trials in the UK, and the actions being taken to improve the situation.
01.05.2009Regenerative Medicine, May 2009
This POSTnote looks at recent developments in this area and analyses the issues they pose for UK researchers and regulators.
01.04.2009Personalised medicine, April 2009
This POSTnote examines the state of research into human variability, and the prospects, challenges and policy implications of more personalised medical treatment.

Glossary

  • Research Papers (RP) - briefings produced by the House of Commons Library on Bills, topical issues and regular statistics
  • Standard Notes (SN) - shorter, topical briefings from the Commons Library
  • Early Day Motions (EDMs) - formal motions submitted by MPs in the House of Commons
  • POST Notes - short briefing notes produced by the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology
  • Lords Library Notes (LLN) - papers compiled by the House of Lords Library on Bills and for debates in the Lords