§ Mr. Llew SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the cost in the last year for which figures are available to the National Health Service of the prescribing of drugs to combat depression. [116977]
§ Ms StuartThe net ingredient of prescription items dispensed in the community for antidepressant drugs in England in 1998 was £279 million. Information on antidepressant drugs dispensed in hospitals is not available.
The data are based on items and cover all prescriptions dispensed by community pharmacists, appliance contractors, dispensing doctors and prescriptions submitted by prescribing doctors for items personally administered. The data cover all prescriptions dispensed in England and exclude prescriptions written in England but dispensed outside England.
The net ingredient cost (NIC) is the basic cost of a drug and does not take account of discounts, dispensing costs, fees or prescription charges income.
Antidepressant drugs are contained in the British National Formulary section 4.3—antidepressant drugs.
The data do not include dispensing in hospital or private prescriptions.