§ Mr. Michael Morrisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) whether he proposes to take any action to deal with the wide variation in prices charged by pharmacists for dispensing identical private prescriptions;
(2) what is the average chemist's mark-up on drugs compared with the wholesale price.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeAlthough I understand that Pharmaceutical Services of Great Britain publishes a list of recommended fees for private dispensing, the prices, including any mark-up on ingredient cost, charged for dispensing a private prescription are a matter for the dispensing pharmacist. They are not a matter for Government.
There is no mark-up on drugs dispensed against National Health Service prescriptions. Retail pharmacists are reimbursed the cost of drugs dispensed and receive in addition remuneration, which for 1984 averaged £1.02 per item dispensed. Our reimbursement levels also take account of the level of discounts which are frequently offered by wholesalers to pharmacists.