§ Mr. SayeedTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the average discount under the current pharmaceutical price regulation scheme; and how much it is estimated to have saved the National Health Service during 1987 and 1988.
§ Mr. MellorDiscounts do not feature in the pharmaceutical price regulation scheme. The amount deducted from payments to pharmacies in respect of discounts is on average some 8.3 per cent. of the basic price of medicines. As regards the resulting savings I would refer my hon. Friend to my reply to the hon. Member for Cunninghame, North (Mr. Wilson), on 20 June at column97.
§ Mr. SayeedTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the cost to the National Health Service of brand name drugs dispensed by retail pharmacy contractors during the calendar year 1987.
§ Mr. MellorBased on a one in 200 sample of prescriptions, the net ingredient cost of named drugs dispensed by retail pharmacists during the calendar year 1987 is estimated to have been £1.3 billion, without taking account of other factors such as pharmacists' fees and container allowances.