Propecia, a new treatment for baldness produced by Merck Sharp & Dohme, is to be blacklisted at the manufacturer's request. Following consultation on the proposal, the Department of Health announced on June 6 that most respondents agreed that Propecia should not be available on the National Health Service.
Regulations to add Propecia to Schedule 10 of the National Health Service (General Medical Services) Regulations 1992 and to permit general medical practitioners to write private prescriptions for Propecia for their NHS patients are expected to be introduced later this year.