§ Dr. Roger Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will investigate why the total cost of drugs to the National Health Service between 1969 and 1979 increased at eight times the rate of that between 1959 and 1969.
§ Dr. VaughanThe cost of drugs in the National Health Service is regularly monitored and action is taken to ensure that prices are reasonable, that information on the use and characteristics of medicines is readily available to doctors and that, so far as possible, ineffective or wasteful prescribing is avoided. Over the years there have been many improvements in the methods of treatment available, the number of elderly patients has increased and higher standards are required in the manufacture and testing of medicines. Inevitably these factors increase costs but the rate of increase has not been on the scale suggested and I see no need for a special inquiry.
The total cost of drugs used in the NHS in England and Wales was £71 million in 1958–59, £178 million in 1968–69 and £951 million in 1978–79, an increase of 150 per cent. in the first period and of 434 per cent. in the second. Adjusted for the effects of inflation these increases were 85 per cent. in the first period and 77 per cent. in the second.