HC Deb 27 January 2004 vol 417 c331W
Chris Grayling

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received from(a) patients suffering from osteoporosis and (b) groups representing them about the recent National Institute for Clinical Excellence assessment of Raloxifene; and how many patients have been prescribed the drug in each of the past three years. [150038]

Dr. Ladyman

The Department has had no formal representations from patient groups on the subject, but has received a number of letters.

Information on the number of people who receive medicines, or reasons why a drug was prescribed is not available. Information on how many prescription items of Raloxifene Hydrochloride were dispensed is shown in the table.

Number of prescription items of Raloxifene Hydrochloride that were dispensed in the community in England from 2000
Number of prescription items
2000 79,944
2001 118,950
2002 160,716
20031 138,841
1January to September

Source:

Prescription Cost Analysis (PCA) data from the Prescription Pricing Authority.