§ Mr. Peter BradleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health to what extent(a) the availability of generic drugs has improved and (b) the Category D List has decreased; and if he will make a statement on the impact of such changes on such drugs' overall cost to the NHS since August 1999; and if he will make a statement. [106871]
§ Ms Stuart[holding answer 25 January 2000]: There are some indications that the supply situation for generic drugs is easing. The number of drugs on the Category D list—and therefore regarded, under the existing reimbursement system, as being in short supply—has fallen in the last three months. The position since August 1999 is shown in the table.
The cost of generic drugs to the National Health Service is continuing to rise, though the rate of increase is slowing down. On 21 December last year we announced additional in-year funding of £90 million to help the NHS manage the pressures from generic prices on health authority budgets.
349W
Number of preparations or packs in Category D since August 1999 1 Number 1999 August 176 September 190 October 196 November 175 December 109 2000 January 96 1 The figures relate to the month in which scripts are dispensed