§ Mr. Paul MarsdenTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how much was spent by the NHS on drugs for cancer treatment in each year since 1992; and if he will make a statement; [84243]
(2) if he will estimate the expenditure per head on oncology services (i) in total and (ii) by type of treatment in (a) the UK, (b) each EU country, (c) Canada, (d) the USA and (e) Japan in the latest year for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement; [84241]
(3) if he will list for each health authority the amount spent on (a) cancer treatment drugs, (b) radiography, (c) cancer surgery and (d) other cancer treatment for the last available year; and if he will make a statement; [84419]
(4) if he will list the total spending on oncology drugs for each year since 1992; and if he will make a statement; [86628]
(5) what studies his Department has undertaken into oncology drug funding by health authorities; and if he will make a statement; [86633]
(6) if he will list the per capita spending on oncology drugs for each health authority in each year since 1992; and if he will make a statement. [86627]
§ Mr. HuttonCancer services are estimated to account for 6.3 per cent. (£1,479 million) of National Health Service hospital expenditure in England. The estimated population for England in 1998 was 49.44 million. This suggests expenditure on cancer services of £30 per head of population in England. Information on the cost per head by type of treatment in the United Kingdom and comparable expenditure per head for other countries is not available.
Information on expenditure per head on oncology services, expenditure on cancer treatment drugs, radiotherapy, cancer surgery and other cancer treatments and details of per capita spending on oncology drugs for each health authority is not available. The Department has not undertaken any studies into oncology drug funding by health authorities.
Information collected by the Department shows the net ingredient cost of drugs used in the treatment of cancer and dispensed in the community in England since 1992. This is shown in the table.
27W
Expenditure on cancer drugs in England since 1992–97 £ million Net ingredient cost 1992 42.2 1993 46.9 1994 56.4 1995 65.4 1996 76.5 1997 85.9 Notes:
1. Drugs used for the treatment of cancer are those described in the British National Formulary (September 1998 edition) sections 8.1, "Cytotoxic drugs", 8.2.4 "Interferons", 8.2.5 "aldesleukin" and 8.3 "sex hormones and hormone antagonists in malignant disease".
2. Some of these drugs may have been used to treat other conditions. It is not possible to separately identify those. In addition drugs other than those in the specified sections may have been used to treat cancer patients.
3. The data are from the Prescription Cost Analysis system and cover all prescriptions dispensed by community pharmacists and dispensing doctors in England. Information on drugs dispensed in hospitals is not available.
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.