§ Mr. David StewartTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will estimate the projected cost to the National Health Service in Scotland of extending prescription charge exemptions to include those recovering from cancer. [56165]
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§ Mr. GalbraithIt is not possible to identify separately the cost of items prescribed and dispensed for those people recovering from cancer. The NHS prescription form does not record the medical diagnosis for which a drug has been prescribed.
§ Mr. David StewartTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what research his Department has evaluated into the effectiveness of Tamoxifen as an anti-cancer treatment; and if he will assess the advantages of extending the exemption from prescription charges to include those who are required to use it as part of their continuing treatment. [56163]
§ Mr. GalbraithThe Scottish Office Department of Health has not evaluated any research into the effectiveness of Tamoxifen as an anti-cancer treatment.
The current prescription charge exemption arrangements were reviewed as part of the Government's Comprehensive Spending Review. Following the Review, all current prescription charge exemptions will be protected for the rest of the Parliament and existing patient charges will rise by no more than the rate of inflation over the next 3 years.
Extending the list of conditions giving rise to medical exemption would provide help only to those whose income is about the level for help on low income grounds. In the light of competing demands for increased NHS spending, extending the list would not be making the best use of NHS resources.