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Antibiotics

Volume 270: debated on Monday 22 January 1996

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To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many courses of antibiotics were administered in Britain in 1970, 1980 and in each year from 1990 to 1995. [10595]

The available information for England is shown in the table. Information relating to Scotland and Wales is the responsibility of my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Scotland and for Wales.

Number of prescriptions dispensed for antibiotics
England
YearPrescriptions (millions)
198032.8
199039.8
199143.7
199243.4
199347.7
199445.8

Notes:

1. Antibiotics are those preparations in the British National Formulary [issue 26, September 1993] therapeutic group 5.1—antibacterial drugs.

2. The data for 1980 and 1990 are not consistent with data from 1991 onwards. Figures for 1980 and 1990 are based on fees and on a sample of 1 in 200 prescriptions dispensed by community pharmacists and appliance contractors only. Figures from 1991 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.