§ Mr. SheermanTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate the costs of the dispensing of medicines by rural GP practices in the last year for which figures are available. [40317]
§ Mr. MilburnInformation on the dispensing costs by rural general practitioner practices only is not available. However, the costs associated with prescriptions dispensed by doctors in England in 1997–98 are shown in the table. This includes items administered personally such as influenza vaccines as well as items dispensed by dispensing general practitioners.
Payments made for prescriptions dispensed by doctors, 1997–98 England £ million 1997–98 Basic price 291.4 Discount 26.9 On cost allowance 30.6 Percentage addition to basic price — Fees 32.8 Container allowance 1.3 Total payment oxygen 0.1 VAT 38.3 Total cost 367.6 Notes:
- 1. Information obtained from the Prescription Pricing Authority form PD1(A)DD.
- 2. The information relates to prescriptions dispensed in the periods February to January, most of which are paid in the periods April to March.
- 3. The information includes items personally administered by dispensing doctors.