Mr. RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement about the increase in the cost of phenobarbitone over the last three years. [122143]
§ Ms StuartTable A shows the change in prescription items and the net ingredient cost of phenobarbitone dispensed in the community, 1996 to 1998, and January 1999 to September 1999.
20WPhenobarbitone is included in our proposals to set maximum prices for certain generic medicines, announced on 20 April 2000.
Table A: Number of prescription items and net ingredient cost of phenobarbitone dispensed in the community, 1996 to 1998, and January 1999 to September 1999 Year Prescription items (thousand) Net ingredient (£000) 1996 403.6 187.6 1997 381.8 215.5 1998 363.8 237.2 19991 260.1 258.8 1January to September Notes:
1. The prescription information is from the Prescribed Cost Analysis (PCA) system and is based on a full analysis of all prescriptions appliance contractors, dispensing doctors, and prescriptions submitted by prescribing doctors for items personally administered in England. 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 hospital 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.
3. Phenobarbitone drugs are those defined within the British National Formulary section 4.8.1, "Control of epilepsy".