§ Mr. Andrew MitchellTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what representations he has received from dispensing doctors about the costs of their service compared with the same service provided by dispensing chemists;
(2) whether he will make a statement about the comparative prices per script dispensed by (a) dispensing doctors and (b) dispensing chemists.
140W
§ Mr. NewtonWe have received a few representations from dispensing doctor interests to the effect that dispensing by doctors is less expensive than dispensing by pharmacists. However, it is not possible to make such a comparison because the complex remuneration arrangements for general medical practitioners do not permit the precise separation of dispensing from non-dispensing costs. Thus dispensing fees to dispensing doctors do not reflect all their related costs, as they do with pharmacists, since some of the expenses of the former are directly and separately reimbursed in respect of expenditure on staff and premises. In 1986–87 the cost per prescription (excluding VAT) of drugs and appliances dispensed by doctors and by pharmacists was £3.81 and £3.98 respectively.