§ Mr. Gregory CampbellTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what the cost to the public purse of free prescriptions issued in Northern Ireland has been in each of the last five years; [166002]
(2) how many (a) paid-for and (b) free prescriptions were issued in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years. [166003]
§ Angela SmithThe information is not available in the form requested.
The total number of prescription items, and the number for which the full prescription charge was paid, in each of the last five calendar years is given below. Based upon sample analyses, it is estimated that 5 per cent. of prescription items are partly paid-for by prepayment certificates (PPCs), which allow the patient to obtain as many prescription items as necessary during the four or 12 month validity of the certificate for a set 288W fee. Consequently, about 89 per cent. of Health Service prescription items are dispensed free of charge to patients. Estimated figures for the latter two categories are calculated as follows:
£million Total Items ChargePaid Est. 5 per cent PPCs Est. 89 per PPCs cent. Free 1999 23,247,901 1,341,795 1,162,395 20,743,711 2000 23,663,632 1,409,347 1,183,182 21,071,103 2001 24,551,125 1,472,666 1,227,556 21,850,903 2002 25,419,957 1,545,007 1,270,998 22,603,952 2003 26,399,01( 1,552,296 1.319,951 23,526,769 The total cost of Health Service prescription items in Northern Ireland in each of the last five calendar years (most recent figures available) and the estimated costs of those items dispensed free, are as follows:
(£000) Year Total Gross Cost 89 per cent. (Cost of Free Items) 1999 262,822 233,912 2000 273,977 243,840 2001 295,607 263,090 2002 323,651 288,049 2003 354,339 315,362