VIOXX JUSTICE

That this House deplores the treatment by Merck & Co of hundreds of British citizens whose health was seriously damaged as a result of taking Vioxx, a drug manufactured by the company; welcomes the Under-Secretary of State for Health's assurances in the House on 17 June 2008, that the Department of Health will put pressure on Merck & Co to compensate British victims in the same way it is now compensating those in the United States; welcomes the meeting between the Department and Merck & Co directors on 10 July 2008 to discuss compensation for British Vioxx victims; is disappointed at the lack of any further action taken by the Department; recognises that the Department spends more than £400 million a year on Merck products; and calls on the Department to use this financial leverage to apply pressure on Merck & Co to offer fair compensation to British Vioxx victims.