§ John AustinTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what assessment he has made of the cost of NHS prescribed medicines for dyspepsia in each year from 2000; [174346]
(2) what estimate he made of the change in NHS spending on dyspepsia arising from the National Institute for Clinical Excellence guidance published in 2000; [174347]
(3) what estimate he has made of the spending on drugs for treatment of dyspepsia as a percentage of (a)the total expenditure on drugs for gastro-intestinal conditions and (b)the total primary care drugs budget in the last year for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [174348]
§ Ms Rosie WintertonThe net ingredient cost of drugs prescribed for the treatment of dyspepsia and dispensed in the community in England is shown in the table. 151W
Net ingredient cost (£000) 2000 580,277.5 2001 584,264.0 2002 621,525.6 2003 636,766.9 These figures include medicines listed in sections 1.1.1, 1.1.2, 1.3.1 and 1.3.5 of the British National Formulary.
The figure shown in the table for 2003 represents approximately 76 per cent. of the total expenditure on drugs for gastro-intestinal conditions, and 6.5 per cent. of the cost of all prescription items dispensed in the community.
A number of factors are believed to have influenced spending on medicines for dyspepsia. We have made no estimate of the effect of the National Institute for Clinical Excellence guidance compared with other factors.