§ Ms PrimaroloTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of the total NHS budget in each of the last 10 years was spent on drugs; how many items were prescribed per head of population; and what corresponding information she has from other EC countries.
§ Dr. MawhinneyThe available information is shown in the tables. The total national health service drugs bill comprises expenditure by family health services—FHS—and the hospital and community health services—HCHS. Items prescribed per head of population relate to prescriptions written by general practitioners and dispensed within the FHS. Comparable data for the other countries in the European Community are not available.
Year Total NHS drugs bill as a percentage of total NHS expenditure 1982–83 10.2 1983–84 10.7 1984–85 10.4 1985–86 10.5 1986–87 10.6 1987–88 10.7 1988–89 10.8 1989–90 11.2 1990–91 10.7 1991–92 10.9 Note: 1992–93 expenditure figures are not yet available.
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Year Items prescribed per head of population 1983 7.2 1984 7.3 1985 7.3 1986 7.3
Year Items prescribed per head of population 1987 7.6 1988 7.9 1989 8.0 1990 8.3 1991 8.5 1992 8.8 Note:Prior to 1991, prescription items were based on dispensing fees paid to contractors. From 1991, the actual numbers of items are shown.