A drugs firm has asked for its anti-baldness pill not to be made available on the NHS.

But this has prompted complaints from campaigners who say that the state should be paying for such treatments.

Propecia, which claims to cure male baldness, receives its British licence on Monday and can now be sold at �25 per month of supplies.

But its makers, Merck, Sharp and Dohme (MSD) have delayed the launch and told the Department of Health that it should need not be dispensed free by the NHS.

This is widely seen as a move to make sure that GPs can prescribe it privately to their own patients.

Stephen Thornton, chief executive of the NHS Confederation, which represents NHS managers, said: "This is a very shrewd move by the company - they have realised this is a lifestyle drug, and it's unlikely that the company would be allowed to prescribe it on the NHS."

The charity Hairline International, however, says that baldness "ruins lives".

Director Elizabeth Steele said: "We believe that medical treatments for baldness should be available on the NHS.

"Baldness can destroy marriages and wreck careers."

Dr Ian Banks, a specialist in men's health issues, said it was a "shame" that the drug would not be available to poorer patients.

MSD will not put the pills on sale in Britain until at least the new year.

In clinical trials of more than 2,000 men in the United States, 86% who took the tablet once a day were reported to have maintained their hair levels or grown more hair after a year.

'Responsible approach'

Propecia is said to be used by 800,000 men in 38 countries.

It does not claim to cure hair loss caused by alopecia or chemotherapy.

A Department of Health spokeswoman said: "Merck, Sharp and Dohme, the manufacturers, have asked that Propecia not be made available on the NHS.

"They don't believe that the health care system should be funding this product.

"The Department of Health welcomes MSD's responsible approach.

"The department will not be taking action, so this product will not be available on the NHS."