IT is generally recognised that NHS funds are inadequate to meet the needs of the public.

My recent experiences in obtaining medication have brought home to me part of the problem.

My doctor, quite correctly, prescribes for me a drug using its generic name.

When a pharmaceutical company markets a drug after incurring costs in research and development it seeks to recoup the costs and the drug is marketed under a brand name.

After a few years the "copyright" for the drug expires and other companies may produce it as a compound with a generic name. They, of course, have not incurred research and development costs and they are able to offer the identical product at a cheaper price.

Over the last 18 months or so, the chemist has only been able to supply part of the quantity prescribed and I have had to return a few days later for the remainder.

On the most recent occasion, three visits were required. Fortunately for me the journeys were not so onerous as they may have been for some.

The branded version was available, but costs more than the identical generic drug.

By manipulating the supply of drugs in this way, the pharmaceutical industry is costing the NHS (and that means the public indirectly) more than is necessary.

A second development, which is also costing the NHS more money, is the practice of putting tablets in bubble packs, which I find difficult to accept, believing it has more to do with profit, other than in a few exceptional cases.

There is nothing wrong with profit, except when it is excessive at the expense of those who have no option.

MR A WHITTAKER, Somerset Road, Rishton.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.