HC Deb 20 March 1990 vol 169 c550W
34. Mr. Alex Carlile

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make it his policy to include cancer sufferers within the categories of people exempt from prescription charges.

Mrs. Virginia Bottomley

Over 75 per cent. of prescriptions are now dispensed free. The Government's policy is to direct help with prescription charges to those who are likely to have difficulty in paying charges on financial grounds. To extend the small list of medical conditions which confer exemption from charges would not be making the best use of NHS resources.

58. Mr. Ashley

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he intends to make any further increases in prescription charges.

Mrs. Virginia Bottomley

I announced on 1 March that the NHS prescription charge will be increased to £3.05 with effect from 1 April. There are no immediate plans for a further increase in the charge.

133. Mr. Fearn

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received on the level of prescription charges.

Mr. Freeman

A number have been received from hon. Members and others.

69. Mr. Roy Hughes

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the cost of a prescription in 1979; how many subsequent increases there have been; and what has been the percentage increase overall.

Mrs. Virginia Bottomley

Currently over 75 per cent. of all items dispensed in the National Health Service are free from prescription charges. In 1979, the figure was around only 60 per cent. The number of items attracting the standard prescription charge has fallen from around two in every five items to less than one during this time. In 1979, a total of 304.6 million items were dispensed at an ingredient cost of £592.1 million. In 1989, some 352 million items were dispensed at a cost of around £1,883 million. The average cost per item rose during this time from £1.94 to about £5.35.

On 16 July 1979, the National Health Service prescription charge was increased to 45p. Since then the charge has been increased on 10 occasions to its present level of £2.80. This represents an increase of 522 per cent. in cash terms or 209 per cent. in real terms.