§ Mr. BurstowTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the net ingredient cost for preparations used in the treatment of asthma(a) in total, (b) per health authority and (c) per head of population per health authority in each of the last five years. [43642]
§ Ms JowellI refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the right hon. Member for East Devon (Sir P. Emery) on 22 July 1997,Official Report, column 569. This gave the available information on the costs of drugs dispensed for the treatment of asthma in England by Family Health Services Authorities for the years 1993 to 1995 and by health authority for 1996. Copies of the information by health authority for 1997 are available in the Library.
The net ingredient cost of drugs dispensed in the community in England for the period 1993 to 1997 is shown in the table. Information on the use of drugs in hospitals is not available.
218W
Net ingredient cost of drugs dispensed in the community for the treatment of asthma, 1993 to 1997 England £million year Net ingredient cost 1993 346.5 1994 378.9 1995 410.9 1996 437.5 1997 466.2 Notes:
1. The data cover all prescriptions dispensed by community pharmacists, appliance contractors and dispensing doctors, and prescriptions submitted by prescribing doctors for items personally administered in England. The information was obtained from the Prescription Cost Analysis system for drugs used in the treatment of asthma contained in British National Formulary sections 3.1 (bronchodilators), 3.2 (corticosteroids) and 3.3 (Cromoglycate and related therapy). Some of the drugs may be used for the treatment of other conditions.
2. The net ingredient cost is the basic price of a drug before discounts and the addition of dispensing costs or fees. It does not include any adjustment for income obtained where a prescription charge is paid at the time the prescription is dispensed or where the patient has purchased a pre-payment certificate.