§ Mr. Peter BradleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate the savings which the NHS would have made in 1997–98 had equivalent generic drugs been prescribed in place of non-generics. [68450]
§ Mr. DenhamWe estimate that, had equivalent generic drugs been prescribed in the community in place of proprietary items in the National Health Service in 1997–98, in all cases where equivalent generic drugs were available, then savings of some £66 million could in theory have been made. However, there are circumstances in which generic prescribing is inappropriate.
§ Mr. Peter BradleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what was the average income in 1997–98 in(a) a prescribing GP and (b) a dispensing GP; [68446]
(2) what is the average income supplement earned by a GP through dispensing. [68447]
§ Mr. DenhamThe level of fees and allowances payable to general practitioners are set by the independent pay review body to deliver and distribute their recommended level of net incomes for GPs, taking account of the costs, pressures and workload of practice in different areas. Earnings from practice dispensing are an integral part of the overall recommendations of the Review Body.
Spending from the NHS research and development levy, by region 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 Budget 1 Budget 2 Budget 1 Budget 2 Budget 1 Budget 2 Northern and Yorkshire 12,794 6,707 16,094 6,125 16,060 5,595 North West 18,019 5,867 20,413 7,085 20,479 7,109 Trent 18,040 4,257 20,512 4,359 20,830 4,560 West Midlands 6,313 5,125 9,734 4,717 10,091 4,592 Anglia and Oxford 8,838 9,310 17,829 10,040 18,345 10,130 South West 11,605 8,024 15,552 7,408 16,193 6,518 North Thames 260,294 7,300 198,996 6,949 196,643 6,334 South Thames 22,705 5,197 50,889 6,078 51,712 5,477 Totals 358,608 51,787 350,019 52,761 350,353 50,315 Notes:
Figures are outturn (provisional for 1998–99) in £000 at price level prevailing at the time.
There is a discontinuity in budget 1 allocations between 1996–97 and 1997–98 because accounting for research in postgraduate teaching hospitals was transferred from North Thames to the host regional office.
The table excludes national research and development programmes expenditure in budget 2 and £675,000 on budget 1 funds allocated during 1998–99 to cover the unforeseen costs incurred by providers hosting externally-funded non commercial research and development which qualifies for NHS support.
From 1 April 2000 the distribution of budget 2 funding to regional offices will be in proportion to the distribution of revenue allocations to health authorities.