§ Mr. Jon Owen JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what is the average cost to her Department for providing glaucoma sufferers with a lifetime of prescriptions; [31403]
(2) what is the total annual cost to his Department for providing prescriptions to glaucoma sufferers; and how much is claimed back each year through prescription charges; [31401]
(3) what is the average cost to his Department for prescriptions to glaucoma sufferers per annum, per patient; and what is the same cost to the patient in prescription charges. [31400]
§ Mr. MaloneThe available information is shown in the table:
Drugs used for the treatment of glaucoma, 1994 (provisional) England Amount Net ingredient cost £25.4 million Prescription items 3.4 million Average net ingredient cost per prescription item £7.50
- 1. Drugs as defined by the British National Formulary section 11.6 (Treatment of glaucoma). Some of these drugs may have been prescribed for conditions other than glaucoma.
- 2. The information was obtained from the prescription cost analysis system which is based on a full analysis of all prescriptions dispensed in England by community pharmacists and appliance contractors, dispensing doctors and prescriptions submitted by prescribing doctors for items personally administered. It excludes items dispensed by hospital pharmacies.
- 3. The net ingredient cost refers to the cost of the drug before discounts and does not include any dispensing costs or fees.
- 4. Prescription data does not identify the disease or condition for which the item has been prescribed.