§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what is his calculation of total costs in real terms and the total number of prescriptions for drugs issued in each of the past five years. [26281]
§ Mr. Malone[holding answer 22 April 1996]: The table shows the annual number of prescriptions dispensed in the community in England between 1990–91 and 1994–95 and their total cost, including dispensing fees, in real terms.
281W
Year Total number of prescriptions dispensed (thousands) Total cost of drugs and appliances including dispensing fees (£ millions) 1990–91 396,580 3,074 1991–92 415,370 3,206 1992–93 432,370 3,469 1993–94 455,320 3,725
Year Total number of prescriptions dispensed (thousands) Total cost of drugs and appliances including dispensing fees (£ millions) 1994–95 467,790 3,931
- 1. The number of prescriptions are rounded to the nearest thousand and include items personally administered and prescriptions dispensed by chemists, appliance contractors and dispensing doctors. It also includes prescriptions written by hospital doctors but dispensed in the community.
- 2. The costs relate to gross pharmaceutical services expenditure (drugs, medicines, appliances and dispensing fees) and is rounded to the nearest £million.