§ Mrs. LaitTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what container allowance is paid by the NHS for calendar packs of drugs per container and in total; and how many drugs with two or three formulations or more come in one calendar package;
(2) how much is paid by the NHS as a container allowance for drugs per prescription and in total; what percentage of drugs are not dispensed prepacked; and what percentage of packaged products are repackaged by pharmacists.
§ Dr. MawhinneyThe container allowance is an average figure calculated on the basis of an annual inquiry. The inquiry takes account of the fact that not every prescription item needs a container. The resulting allowance—currently 6.5p—is then paid out for every prescription item, including where more than one formulation is contained in a calendar pack. The British National Formulary for March 1993 lists 19 calendar 647W packs containing more than one formulation. In 1992–93, the cost of the container allowance in England was £18.8 million. Information about the percentage of drugs not dispensed in nre-packaged form or about packaged products that are then re-packaged by pharmacists is not available.