SCOTLAND must get the best possible value for money from companies which provide prescription drugs, the health secretary has warned.

Alex Neil told MSPs on the Scottish Parliament Health Committee the industry was "secretive" and that many earned "substantial profits".

He was giving evidence on a report published last week which recommended greater transparency and public involvement in the decision-making process of approving new medicines.

The health service spends 15% of its £12billion budget on prescription drugs

Mr Neil said: "We need the cooperation of pharmaceutical companies. They are very secretive about pricing. Each is operating in a competitive commercial environment.

"They could be more forthcoming on the cost of developing a drug. I recognise that they are in business to make a profit, but I would welcome more information on cost. A lot are making substantial profits."

Mr Neil said there was a "misconception" that the Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) turned down more drugs than it approved.

He added: "There is a 70% approval rate. My principal concern is to maximise the transparency and openness ... to get the right drug at the right price for the people and the patient."

Conservative committee member Nanette Milne raised concerns about Scottish patients being unable to access cancer drugs.

Professors Philip Routledge and Charles Swainson, authors of the report published last week, warned against singling out cancer from other illnesses.

Professor Routledge, of Cardiff University, said: "I would be loath to single cancer out from other conditions which shorten life or reduce the quality of life significantly."

Professor Swainson, a former NHS Lothian medical director, said: "There was no evidence presented to me that demonstrated that drugs for cancer are treated any differently from other drugs in decision-making by the SMC."

The health secretary had asked for a review into access to new medicines after concerns were raised by some doctors, charities and patients.

Prof Routledge said: "The process Scotland uses to appraise new drugs is a very good one. My recommendations relate largely to trying to increase the transparency of the process so that all those involved in the process are able to see the qualities of the process that Scotland uses."