§ Mr. LlwydTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the total amount recouped by her Department through prescription charges in(a) 1992, (b) 1993 and (c) 1994; and if she will make a statement.
§ Mr. MaloneI refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave to the right hon. Member for Derby, South (Mrs. Beckett) on 9 December 1994 at column397. Prescription charges provide valuable additional income to the national health service at a time of competing demands for resources.
§ Mr. FabricantTo ask the Secretary of State for Health in respect of what proportion of prescriptions the patient claims exemption from prescription charges, what checks are made to monitor the accuracy of such claims; and what proportion of such claims are found to be false.
§ Mr. MaloneIn 1993, 82 per cent. of prescription items were dispensed free of charge by community pharmacists and appliance contractors to patients who declared that they were exempt or entitled to remission of charges under the national health service low income scheme. Regular checks of patients declarations carried out by family health services authorities indicate that about 1.5 per cent. are incorrect. I am determined to take action to stamp out this abuse and all other forms of fraud against the NHS.