HC Deb 15 March 2000 vol 346 cc233-4W
Mrs. Ann Winterton

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the cost to the NHS of emergency contraceptive drugs in each of the years 1990 to 1997. [113166]

Yvette Cooper

The available information is shown in the tables.

Table 1 shows the number of prescriptions and the net ingredient cost of emergency contraceptive drug (Schering PC4) dispensed in the community in England.

Table 2 shows the number of prescriptions and net ingredient cost of hormonal emergency contraceptives prescribed at Family Planning Clinics in England.

Table 1: Number of prescriptions and the net ingredient cost of

emergency contraceptive drugs, (Schering PC4), prescribed in the

community 1990 to 1997—England
Year Number (000s) Net ingredient cost (£000)
1990 189.6 274.5
1991 232.8 337.5
1992 272.2 391.8
1993 313.3 450.8
1994 363.8 520.8
1995 475.4 678.5
1996 565.6 900.2
1997 552.8 897.7

Notes:

1. The prescription information was obtained from the Prescription Cost Analysis (PCA) system. Please note that the data in 1990 are not strictly consistent with data from 1991 onwards. Figures for 1990 are based on fees and on a sample of 1 in 200 prescriptions dispensed by community pharmacists and appliance contractors only. Figures for 1991 onwards 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 do not cover drugs dispensed in hospital, Family Planning Clinics, or on 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.

Table 2: Occasions on which hormonal emergency contraceptives

prescribed by Family Planning Clinics and the net ingredient cost,

1990 to 1997—England
Hormonal emergency contraceptive
Year Number (000s) Assumed net ingredient cost1 (£000)
1990 45.5 63.7
1991 63.0 88.2
1992 76.7 107.4
1993 92.2 129.1
1994 112.1 156.9
1995 157.6 220.6
1996 193.7 271.2
1997 205.1 287.1
1 Costs are calculated using the assumption that the cost of hormonal emergency contraceptives used in Family Planning Clinics is the same as that for Schering PC4 prescribed in the community.

Source:

KT31

Department of Health Statistics division SD2B