Heroin

Bob Russell
To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much the National Health Service spent on the purchase of heroin for medicinal purposes in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available; and if she will make a statement.

Caroline Flint
Heroin is known as diamorphine when used for medical purposes. Figures for use in the community are available for 1996 to 2005. Figures for use in hospitals are only available for 2001 to 2005.

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|    |Community dispensing—net ingredient cost|Estimated hospital cost|Estimated total|
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|1996|3,822.9                                 |—                      |—              |
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|1997|3,747.5                                 |—                      |—              |
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|1998|3,808.1                                 |—                      |—              |
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|1999|3,693.3                                 |—                      |—              |
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|2000|3,553.1                                 |—                      |—              |
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|2001|3,287.1                                 |3,945.9                |7,233.1        |
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|2002|3,312.0                                 |3,898.4                |7,210.4        |
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|2003|3,686.4                                 |4,052.2                |7,738.6        |
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|2004|3,974.2                                 |3,724.9                |7,699.1        |
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|2005|1,802.9                                 |1,709.8                |3,512.6        |
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The use in 2005 was affected by production problems at a major manufacturer.