§ 18. Mr. Kenneth Lewisasked the Minister of Health whether the increase in the prescribing of drugs and the consequent increase in costs arises from more of the cheaper drugs being prescribed, or from a greater prescribing by doctors of more expensive drugs.
§ Mr. K. RobinsonThe increase in the number and cost of prescriptions has not been confined to cheap or expensive drugs, but is reflected in almost all therapeutic groups.
§ Mr. LewisIf the Minister can make that statement, cannot he give us a breakdown of the figures? Would he do it either in the form of a letter to me or in a list set out in the OFFICIAL REPORT? We cannot tell whether this extra £50 million is really justified until we see the breakdown.
§ Mr. RobinsonFirst of all, may I point out that it is not an extra £50 million. Secondly, it is very difficult for me to say what are cheap and what are expensive drugs without any further definition. Of course, I should be glad to answer, as far as I am able, a further Question or a letter from the hon. Gentleman.
§ Mr. LubbockDoes not the right hon. Gentleman agree that the cost of prescriptions is bound to increase when many diseases which formerly received inpatient treatment in hospitals are now treated in the home, particularly mental illness? Have we not to accept this situation when discussing the question of increases in costs?
§ Mr. RobinsonCertainly this is one of a number of factors which make up the complex reasons for the increase in the drugs bill. One factor obviously is that the population is increasing the whole time and, at an even faster rate, the proportion of old people, who make more than average demands on the National Health Service.