§ Lord Morris of Manchesterasked Her Majesty's Government:
What is the cost to the NHS of prescription of drug treatments for the following conditions: cancer, schizophrenia, Alzheimer's disease and depression. [HL2672]
§ Baroness Jay of PaddingtonThe available information is shown in the table. The information does not include drugs prescribed and dispensed in hospitals, so does not represent the overall cost to the National Health Service of these drugs. It is not possible to identify the indication for which drugs are prescribed, so some drugs included in the cost may have been used to treat other conditions.56WA
The net ingredient cost of prescription items dispensed in the community for the treatment of cancer, schizophrenia, Alzheimer's disease and depression, 1997 England £ thousands Cancer1 85,946.2 Schizophrenia2 39,987.0 Alzheimer's disease3 656.8 Depression4 239,120.5 Notes:
1. Drugs used for the treatment of cancer are those described in the British National Formulary (BNF) section 8.1 "Cytotoxic drugs", 8.2.4 "Interferons", 8.2.5 "aldesleukin" and 8.3 "Sex hormones and hormone antagonists in malignant disease". Other drugs will also be used to treat cancer patients. It is not possible to separate these for those used for the treatment of cancer only.
2. Drugs used for the treatment of schizophrenia are those indicated for the treatment of schizophrenia in British National Formulary section 4.2, "Drugs used in psychoses and related disorders". Some of these drugs may be used for other conditions.
3. Drugs used for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease are those described in the British National Formulary section 4.11, "Drugs for dementia". Such drugs were only dispensed from April 1997.
4. Drugs used for the treatment of depression are those described in the British National Formulary section 4.3, "Antidepressant drugs".
5. The data covers all prescriptions dispensed by community pharmacists and appliance contractors, dispensing doctors, and prescriptions submitted by prescribing doctors for items personally administered.
6. The net ingredient cost refers to the cost of the drug before discounts and does not include any dispensing costs or fees. It does not include any adjustment for income obtained where a prescription charge is paid at the time the prescription is dispensed or where the patient has purchased a pre-payment certificate.
7. Based on BNF Number 32, September 1998.