§ Mr. WallaceTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the cost to the NHS in Scotland of pharmaceutical services, net of prescription charges, for each year from 1985–86 to 1997–98, separately identifying costs arising from prescriptions from(a) dispensing doctors, (b) pharmacies and (c) hospitals. [49717]
§ Mr. GalbraithThe information for Scotland for the financial years 1987–88 to 1997–98 is set out in the table. Costs for 1985–86 and 1986–87 are not available because the data were not collected electronically, in financial years prior to 1987.
The total costs shown include the ingredient costs of drugs and appliances dispensed through community pharmacies, dispensing doctors and appliance suppliers, dispensing and other fees, and the reimbursement of certain other costs, including VAT. The costs are net of prescription charges paid by patients and prescription charges recovered from patients under health board post-dispensing/checking arrangements.
The sums collected in respect of the sales of pre-payment certificates have not been taken into account because they are not deemed to be the payment of a charge under the NHS (Charges for Drugs and Appliances) (Scotland) Regulations 1989, as amended.
It is not possible to cost separately prescriptions written in hospitals and dispensed in community pharmacies.
68W
£ million Year Total costs Costs dispensing doctors Costs pharmacies 1987–88 219.54 7.81 210.27 1988–89 244.80 8.97 234.44 1989–90 273.41 9.93 261.58 1990–91 300.49 11.21 286.96 1991–92 337.12 13.03 321.35 1992–93 378.41 14.65 360.24 1993–94 409.53 16.14 389.18 1994–95 444.76 17.47 422.57 1995–96 481.73 18.10 457.23 1996–97 521.85 19.96 495.77 1997–981 568.47 21.44 539.58 1provisional