§ Mr. BurstowTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what the cost was of prescriptions in each year since 1979; and if he will make a statement. [151524]
§ Ms StuartThe table gives details of the net ingredient cost of prescriptions dispensed in the community in England. The majority of these will have been prescribed by general practitioners.
623W
Net ingredient cost of Prescriptions dispensed in the community in England, 1979 to 1999 £million Year Community pharmacists and appliance contractors Community pharmacists and appliance contractors dispensing doctors and personal administration 1979 592 n/a 1980 716 n/a 1981 834 n/a 1982 977 1,035 1983 1,096 1,162 1984 1,181 1,257 1985 1,250 1,333 1986 1,366 1,459 1987 1,537 1,644 1988 1,737 1,865 1989 1,882 2,027
Net ingredient cost of Prescriptions dispensed in the community in England, 1979 to 1999 £million Year Community pharmacists and appliance contractors Community pharmacists and appliance contractors dispensing doctors and personal administration 1990 2.079 2,243 1991 2,334 2,520 1992 2,639 2,858 1993 2,903 3,159 1994 3,115 3,405 1995 3,362 3,681 1996 3,654 4,007 1997 3,976 4,367 1998 4,285 4,701 1999 4,836 5,291 Notes:
1. 1979 to 1990 data are from the Prescription Pricing Authority PD1 series of forms.
2. 1991 to 1999 data are from the Prescription Cost Analysis (PCA) system.
3. 1979 to 1981data for dispensing doctors and personal administration are not available.
4. Net ingredient cost (NIC) refers to the cost of the drug before discounts and does not include any dispensing costs of 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.