§ Mr. GrayTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what the costs to the NHS of(a) Relenza and (b) Lysovir are; and if he will make a statement. [142812]
§ Ms Stuart[holding answer 15 December 2000]: The latest available figures on the costs of National Health Service prescription items for Relenza and Lysovir dispensed in the community in England are shown in the table. Information is not available for prescriptions dispensed in National Health Service hospitals.
The net ingredient cost of prescription items for Relenza and Lysovir dispensed in the community for the period January 2000 to June 2000, England £000 Drug Net ingredient cost Relenza 4.0 Lysovir 0.4 Notes:
1. The data are from the Prescription Cost Analysis (PCA) systems and are 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. Total prescriptions include not only prescriptions originating from general practices in England but also from nurses, hospital doctors and dentists provided they were dispensed in the community. Also included are prescriptions written in Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man but dispensed in England. The data do not cover drugs dispensed in hospitals or private prescriptions.
2. 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.