HC Deb 15 March 1994 vol 239 cc564-5W
Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will publish her estimate for each year since 1985 of the proportion of generic, non-branded drugs as a percentage of the total amount of drugs prescribed by general practitioners; and what was the total estimated cost in constant prices for both categories for each year.

Dr. Mawhinney

The information available is shown in the table.

The percentage of prescription items and the net ingredient cost of drugs prescribed generically: England
Year Percentage prescribed generically1 Net ingredient cost for items prescribed generically at 1992 prices2(£ million) Net ingredient cost for all items at 1992 prices2 (£ million)
1985 35.0 359.7 1,877.2
1986 39.0 423.1 2,010.1
1987 39.0 443.8 2,131.2
1988 40.0 478.3 2,248.5
1989 42.0 560.5 2,287.0
1990 44.0 643.0 2,328.6
31991 43.0 641.1 2,423.2
41991 41.0 654.4 2,616.5
1992 43.0 786.0 2,858.0
1 Prescription items for dressings and appliances are excluded from the totals in calculating generic prescribing. Items generically prescribed include those written as a generic but dispensed as a proprietary because a generic is not available.
2 The net ingredient cost is the basic cost of drugs before discount and excludes dispensing costs or fees. The net ingredient cost figures at 1992 prices are calculated using the GDP deflator. The net ingredient cost of dressings and appliances is excluded.
3 1991 data are based on items and have the same coverage as 1985 to 1990 data.
4 1991 and 1992 data are based on items and cover all prescriptions dispensed by community pharmacists and appliance contractors, dispensing doctors, arid through direct administration to patients by GPs. These include not only prescriptions originating from general practitioners in England but also from hospital doctors, dentists, and armed services doctors and dentists.

Note: 1985 to 1990 data are based on fees and cover prescriptions dispensed by community pharmacists and appliance contractors only.

Source: Prescription cost analysis statistics.