§ Mr. CohenTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what has been the level of increase in the price of drugs prescribed generically by the NHS in each of the last three years, indicating the 10 drugs which have shown the highest rate of increase and what that rate has been in each case. [100847]
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§ Ms StuartThe available information is set out in the tables:
Level of increase in price of drugs prescribed generically by the National Health Service in each of the last three years Price index Annual increase in prices 1996 100 n/a 1997 100.3 0.3 per cent. 1998 96.8 —3.5 per cent. 1999 105.2 8.7 per cent. Note:
The price index is based on those 90 drugs within the top 100 generic drugs by net ingredient cost in 1998 which were dispensed in each year between January 1996 and June 1999. Prices of individual drugs have been weighted using quantities dispensed in 1998. Data for 1999 is based on prescriptions dispensed in the first half of the year.
Top 10 generic drugs with greatest increase in unit reimbursement price between 1996 and 1997 Drug name Percentage change in unit price Warfarin Sod Tab 1 mg 222.8 Warfarin Sod Tab 3mg 218.2 Frusemide Tab 40mg 34.8 Diclofenac Sod Tab E/C 50mg 31.7 Glibenclamide Tab 5mg 25.6 Bendrofluazide Tab 2.5mg 13.1 Thyroxine Sod Tab 25mcg 9.9 Co-Codamol Eff Tab 8mg/500mg 8.0 Cimetidine Tab 400mg 7.4 Dihydrocodeine Tart Tab 30mg 7.2
Top 10 generic drugs with greatest increase in unit reimbursement price between 1997 and 1998 Drug name Percentage change in unit price Erythromycin Tab E/C 250mg 34.4 Amoxycillin Cap 250mg 24.1 Hypromellose Eye Dps 0.3% 17.6 Oxytetracycline Tab 250mg 16.9 Co-Codamol Eff Tab 8mg/500mg 8.8 Ibuprofen Tab 400mg 8.5 Amoxycillin Oral Susp 250mg/5m1 6.3 Co-Amilofruse Tab 2.5mg/20mg 6.1 Hydroxocobalamin Inj lmg/lml Amp 6.0 Amoxycillin Oral Susp 125mg/5m1 5.2 Notes:
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- 1. The top 10 generic drugs with the greatest increase in each table were selected from the top 100 generic drugs in terms of net ingredient cost in the review period.
- 2. The prescription information was obtained from the Prescription Cost Analysis (PCA) system and is based on a full analysis of all prescriptions dispensed in the community, i.e. by community pharmacists, and appliance contractors, dispensing doctors, and prescriptions submitted by prescribing doctors for items personally administered, in England.
- 3. The unit prices are averages calculated for each preparation from the net ingredient cost and the quantity in each period.
- 4. The net ingredient cost is the basic cost of a drug and does not take account of discounts, dispensing costs, fees or prescription charges income.
Top 10 drugs (from top 100 generics in terms of net ingredient cost in 1998) with greatest per cent. increase in Drug Tariff price between January and December 1999 Preparation Per cent. change in unit price1 Bendrofluazide tablets 2.5mg 988.2 Frusemide tablets 40mg 711.7 Ibuprofen tablets 400mg 315.4 Tamoxifen tablets 20mg 216.8 Cimetidine tablets 400mg 213.9 Thyroxine tablets 25mcg 175.2 Captopri I tablets 12.5mg 171.3 Amoxycillin capsules 250mg 143.1 Warfarin tablets 3mg 127.1 Co-dydramol tablets 10/500 125.9 1 January-December 1999 Note:
Prices have been taken from the printed Drug Tariff (except December 1999 from PPA spreadsheet) and are therefore on a different basis to those quoted for earlier years which have been derived from prescriptions already dispensed and processed.