HC Deb 21 February 1995 vol 255 cc171-2W
Mr. Nicholas Brown

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what are the administration costs of the NHS prescription system.

Mr. Malone

The available information is shown in the table.

Administration costs of the NHS prescription system1 in England in 1993–94
Item Cost (£ million)
Purchase of prescription forms for supply to doctors and dentists2 1.2
Pricing of prescriptions dispensed by community pharmacists, appliance contractors and doctors3 26.7
Total 27.9
Notes:
1Excludes fees paid to doctors, dentists and pharmacists for professional services, expenditure on the drugs bill and the costs of operating the prescription charge exemption and remission arrangements.
2Expenditure by Family Health Services Authorities. Other FHSA administration costs associated with the NHS prescription system are not separately identified.
3Expenditure by the Prescription Pricing Authority.

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