§ Mr. COOPERasked if the right hon. Gentleman is aware that, according to the statistics of the German Empire for 1908, Volume 229, the cost of medicines and appliances per insured person for that year averages 3.52 marks; and has he evidence that would lead to the conclusion that in this country the cost would be less under the National Insurance Bill?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSEThe figure given by the hon. Member is correct, but I would point out that the charge 3.52 marks includes family treatment where the rules of a sickness fund provide for it. Further, the charge assigned in the German statistics to "medicine and appliances" includes such items as milk, wine, baths, etc. For these reasons the figure quoted affords no guidance as to the probable cost of medicine under the National Insurance Bill.
§ Mr. COOPERAm I to understand that by family treatment the right hon. Gentleman means treatment for the family?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSEFamily treatment generally.
§ Mr. COOPERasked if the right hon. Gentleman will state under what arrangements drugs are dispensed under the German scheme of sickness insurance; and, if there is a schedule of prices, will he circulate a translation of it?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSEUnder the German sickness insurance system drugs are either dispensed by licensed chemists or obtained at unlicensed drug shops. There is an official schedule of maximum prices (uniform for all Germany) for such medicaments as may only be supplied by licenced chemists. As, however, the sickness funds commonly include special agreements with the local chemists' associations, the prices charged to these funds vary considerably, and no single schedule of prices could be regarded as representative.