To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of the total NHS budget in each of the last 10 years was spent on drugs; how many items were prescribed per head of population; and what corresponding information she has from other EC countries.
The available information is shown in the tables. The total national health service drugs bill comprises expenditure by family health services—FHS—and the hospital and community health services—HCHS. Items prescribed per head of population relate to prescriptions written by general practitioners and dispensed within the FHS. Comparable data for the other countries in the European Community are not available.
| Year | Total NHS drugs bill as a percentage of total NHS expenditure |
| 1982–83 | 10·2 |
| 1983–84 | 10·7 |
| 1984–85 | 10·4 |
| 1985–86 | 10·5 |
| 1986–87 | 10·6 |
| 1987–88 | 10·7 |
| 1988–89 | 10·8 |
| 1989–90 | 11·2 |
| 1990–91 | 10·7 |
| 1991–92 | 10·9 |
Note: 1992–93 expenditure figures are not yet available.
Year
| Items prescribed per head of population
|
| 1983 | 7·2 |
| 1984 | 7·3 |
| 1985 | 7·3 |
| 1986 | 7·3 |
Year
| Items prescribed per head of population
|
| 1987 | 7·6 |
| 1988 | 7·9 |
| 1989 | 8·0 |
| 1990 | 8·3 |
| 1991 | 8·5 |
| 1992 | 8·8 |
Note:: Prior to 1991, prescription items were based on dispensing fees paid to contractors. From 1991, the actual numbers of items are shown.