§ Mr. AustinTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will implement the Patient Pack Initiative; and if he will make a statement. [19804]
§ Ms JowellImplementing the patient pack initiative, as presently structured, would be complex and has significant financial implications for the National Health Service. We have set out these concerns to the professional and industry groups concerned and are considering whether it will be necessary to implement the European Council Labelling and Leaflet Directive by other means.
§ Mr. AustinTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the financial implications of implementing the Patient Pack Initiative. [19806]
§ Ms JowellThe Department has produced illustrative estimates of the net costs for the Family Health Services and the Prescription Pricing Authority that would have arisen between 1997–98 and 2001–02 if the proposals inherited from the previous administration for introducing patient pack dispensing had been implemented from November 1997. These estimates indicated net costs, at 1997–98 prices, of £4 million in 1997–98, £16–19 million in 1998–99, £24–26 million in 1999–00, £17–18 million in 2000–01 and £13–14 million in 2001–02.