§ Mr. Ralph Howellasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will compare the cost of 100 actifed tablets with the cost of the alternative prescription of 100 actidil tablets and 100 sudafed tablets; if he will state the net cost to the Government, after taking into account the two prescription charges paid; and what was the net cost of supplying actifed in the 12 months leading up to the introduction of the limited list.
§ Mr. HayhoeThe current manufacturers' prices are as follows:
£ 100 Actifed tablets 4.86 100 Actidil tablets 4.70 100 Sudafed tablets 4.40 Where the patient is not exempt from prescription charges, the cost to the National Health Service of any 276W item prescribed, exclusive of the dispensing and administrative costs, is offset by £2.20 from 1 April 1986. In the year 1984–85 the cost of actifed tablets to the NHS, net of income from prescription charges, was £373,600.