§ Mr. Jon Owen JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if she will estimate the annual cost to the national health service for prescribed drugs in the categories(a) drugs acting on the skin and (b) drugs for allergic disorders;
219W(2) how many people were using national health service prescribed drugs as (a) drugs acting on the skin and (b) drugs for allergic reactions.
§ Dr. MawhinneyInformation is not available on the number of people using national health service prescribed drugs which act on the skin and for allergic disorders. The number of prescriptions dispensed in England in 1991 for drugs in these categories and the relevant net ingredient cost is as shown.
Prescriptions (thousands) Net ingredient cost (£ thousands) Drugs acting on the skin 28,255 108,383 Drugs for allergic disorders 5,519 22,637 The figures include prescriptions dispensed by community pharmacists and dispensing doctors and prescriptions submitted by prescribing doctors for items personally administered.