HC Deb 09 March 1995 vol 256 cc319-20W
Mr. Battle

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of NHS medicines prescribed for people with epilepsy was licensed(a) within the last five years, (b) more than five years ago, (c) more than 10 years and (d) more than 15 years ago.

Mr. Sackville

Records from the Medicines Control Agency do not relate specifically to national health service medicines. However, records show that there are currently 215 products licensed for prescription to people with epilepsy.

Then number of products licensed for epilepsy in the periods are:

  1. (a) within the last five years—199l to 1995: 96
  2. (b) more than five years ago—1985 to 1990: 90
  3. (c) more than 10 years ago—1979 to 1984: 41
  4. (d) more than 15 years ago—1973 to 1978: 36

It is not possible to match this information on licensing with NHS prescriptions.

Mr. Battle

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of NHS medicine prescribed for people with epilepsy is prescribed by its generic name.

Mr. Malone

The percentage of drugs dispensed in the family health services authorities in England in 1993 and prescribed by generic name for the British national formulary section "Antiepileptics", chapter 4.8, was 45.8 per cent.

Mr. Battle

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what has been the cost to the NHS of providing medicines to people with epilepsy in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Mr. Malone

The available information is shown in the table.

Net ingredient cost of the British National Formulary therapeutic group Antiepileptics (Chapter 4.8), 1989–1993 England
£ million
Antiepileptics 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993
Net ingredient cost 19.0 21.6 26.0 31.0 36.3

  1. 1. The net ingredient cost refers to the cost of the drug before discounts and does not include any dispensing costs or fees.
  2. 2. The data for 1989 and 1990 are not consistent with data from 1991 onwards. Figures for 1989 and 1990 are based on a sample of 1 in 200 prescriptions dispensed by community pharmacists and appliance contractors only. Figures from 1991 cover all prescriptions dispensed by community pharmacists, appliance contractors, dispensing doctors and prescriptions submitted by prescribing doctors for items personally administered.