§ Mr. Peter AinsworthTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what the cost to the NHS of drugs associated with the treatment of epilepsy was in each of the last five years. [161040]
§ Dr. Ladyman[holding answer 12 March 2004]The table shows the number of prescription items and cost of anti-epilepsy drugs dispensed in the community in England over five years from 1998 to 2002. 113W
Number of prescription items (millions) and net ingredient cost (£ million) of all Antiepilepsy drugs (British National Formulary, section 4.8) that were dispensed in the community in England, 1998 to 2002 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 Number of items (million) 6.12 6.40 6.70 7.20 7.60 Net ingredient cost (million) 74.86 86.47 99.11 120.45 142.22 Notes:
- 1. Epilepsy drugs are included in British National Formulary (BNF) section 4.8 (Antiepileptics)
- 2. The data is based on prescription items dispensed in the community in England, i.e. by community pharmacists and appliance contractors, dispensing doctors, and prescriptions submitted by prescribing doctors for items personally administered in England.
- 3. The data do not cover drugs dispensed in hospital or private prescriptions.
- 4. 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.
Source:
Prescription Cost Analysis (PCA) data from the Prescription Pricing Authority