§ 23. Mr. Fisherasked the Minister of Health if he will state the cost of drugs used in National Health Service hospitals for the years 1964, 1965 and 1966, respectively, and the proportion of total hospital expenditure which these costs represent.
§ The Minister of Health (Mr. Kenneth Robinson)£16 million, £.17.8 million and an estimated £18.9 million in the three years 1964–65 to 1966–67; representing 2.94 per cent., 2.96 per cent. and 2.89 per cent., respectively, of total hospital expenditure.
§ Mr. FisherAgainst the generally rising trend in prices overall in this country, would not the right hon. Gentleman agree that it really is remarkable that prices of pharmaceutical supplies for hospitals have actually been falling?
§ Mr. RobinsonI would have said that the figures suggest that as a proportion of total hospital expenditure there was a remarkable consistency in the three years, which I agree is not by any means unsatisfactory.
§ Mr. ManuelWould not my right hon. Friend agree that there could, nevertheless, be savings if we had scientifically based pharmacists within hospital regions, where they could be attached to larger hospitals and be of use at the same time to smaller hospitals?
§ Mr. RobinsonI am not sure what my hon. Friend is proposing, but I do not think that there would be a saving if we were to abolish dispensing by chemists. That would not be the case according to my information.
§ Mr. BraineCan the right hon. Gentleman confirm, so that we can get this matter into perspective, that his Department's figures show that the use of new drugs since 1955 has saved, in bed costs alone, about the equivalent of the whole hospital drug bill?
§ Mr. RobinsonI would not like to confirm or deny that statistic without notice. If the hon. Gentleman will place a Question on the Order Paper, I will be glad to answer it.