§ The Earl of Kimberleyasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they accept that the dispensing of prescriptions by doctors costs the taxpayer more than dispensing by pharmacists, and, if so, why they allow this other than when circumstances dictate; and
Whether they accept that dispensing doctors consistently issue more prescriptions per patient than their non-dispensing colleagues; whether their system of remuneration means that these doctors make larger financial gains; and, if so, why they allow this practice; and
Whether they have addressed the high costs of dispensing by doctors and, if not, why not.
§ Baroness CumberlegeIt is difficult to make direct comparisons between the cost of dispensing by community pharmacists and dispensing doctors because of the different discount rates which apply and the method of reimbursement for Value Added Tax. Data published in the most recent annual report of the Prescription Pricing Authority indicate average costs 9WA per prescription in 1992–93 of £7.93 for dispensing doctors and £8.30 for pharmacists (excluding VAT and discounts).
The average number of items dispensed per patient by dispensing doctors in the same period was 9.6 compared with 8.4 dispensed by pharmacists. It is important to remember that dispensing practices fulfil a vital need in areas where there is a lack of community pharmacy services and without this arrangement patients residing in rural areas would have serious difficulty in obtaining the medicines they need.
The Government continue to assess the delivery of value for money in every area of the National Health Service, including the services provided by dispensing doctors.
An enquiry to review the level of discount received by dispensing doctors has recently been completed and the Government are considering their conclusions.