§ The Countess of Marasked Her Majesty's Government:
What are the comparative overall costs of remuneration of (i) dispensing doctors, and (ii) pharmacists for each year since 1984, including basic price, less a discount, plus a dispensing fee, an on-cost allowance and a container allowance.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health and Social Security (Lord Skelmersdale)Pharmacists are paid the average net cost of the medicines they supply after allowing for any discounts which are generally available. They are also paid a container allowance intended to cover the average costs of containers. Their remuneration, which is paid by way of a dispensing fee and an on-cost allowance, is intended to meet overhead and labour costs, reward capital employed and provide a profit. Similar arrangements apply to dispensing doctors but their remuneration reflects the recommendations of the Doctors and Dentists Review Body.
It is not possible to make a direct comparison of the cost of dispensing by doctors and by pharmacists because the complex remuneration arrangements for general medical practitioners do not permit the precise separation of dispensing from non-dispensing costs. The gross amounts paid to pharmacists and doctors which can be identified as being specific to the costs of dispensing are as follows.
Family Practitioner Service Appropriation Accounts England (£ millions)
Pharmacists **Doctors 1984–85 1450.0 112.5 1985–86 1552.7 116.8 1986–87 1676.5 128.1 1987–88* 1853.5 144.0 *Estimate **Includes payments to all doctors for drugs personally administered.