HC Deb 29 June 1998 vol 315 cc44-5W
Mr. Hoyle

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of NHS money is spent on parallel trading in drugs. [47809]

Mr. Milburn

Full information on expenditure on parallel traded medicines by the National Health Service is not available. However, within the Family Health Services sector in England and Wales, the Pharmacists' Discount Inquiry estimates that, in 1997–98, 4.63 per cent. of the net ingredient cost of prescriptions dispensed by community pharmacies was in relation to parallel imported products. Over each of the six years 1992–1997, the corresponding figures were between 4.09 per cent. and 4.80 per cent. For 1997–98, this equates with a figure of some £197 million expenditure on such products, providing an estimated saving to the NHS of around £19 million.

Mr. Hoyle

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of drugs for use in the NHS are imported from overseas. [47810]

Mr. Milburn

Records are not kept of the origin of drugs in the National Health Service. However, in 1997, pharmaceutical products worth £3,192 million were imported into the United Kingdom, with exports of £5,484 million. This includes pharmaceuticals used outside the NHS. The latest available figures (financial year 1996–97) indicate an expenditure of £4,735 million on the drugs bill in England. This figure includes community prescribed and hospital medicines.