§ Mr. Nicholas Wintertonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what were the pharmaceutical sales to the National Health Service in the period 1967 to 1978; and what were the pharmaceutical sales to the National Health Service as a percentage of the total National Health Service cost for the same period.
§ Sir George YoungThe information is as follows:
NHS drug costs* £million Percentage of total NHS costs Per cent. Year ended 31 March 1967† 116 9.9 1968† 127 10.0 1969† 135 9.9 1970 139 9.9 1971 153 9.3 1972 172 9.3 1973 196 9.3 1974 218 9.1 1975‡ 264 7.9 1976‡ 343 7.6 1977‡ 444 8.6 1978‡ 565 9.8 * Hospital drug costs, togetherivith the cost of drugs, dressings and appliances supplied under the pharmaceutical services by chemists and dispensing doctors (exclusive of fees and allow ances paid to them). † England and Wales; other years England only. ‡Includes expendilure incurred on community health services.