The cost of prescriptions dispensed without charge to the patient has risen from three-fifths of the total in 1977 to four-fifths in 1999, according to Government figures. Total spending on prescriptions has increased more than 10-fold in cash terms since 1977.
In answer to a written question from Mr Gerald Howarth (Con, Aldershot) asking what the total cost of free prescriptions was in 1970, 1980, 1990 and 1999, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health (Ms Gisela Stuart) said on July 28 that the analysis of exempt and chargeable prescriptions had started in 1977. The net ingredient costs for prescriptions dispensed by community pharmacists and appliance contractors in England are given in Table 1 (below).
The analysis was based on a one in 20 sample of all prescriptions submitted to the Prescription Pricing Authority. Prescriptions dispensed by dispensing doctors are not categorised in this way and were excluded. From the figures, it can be seen that the cost of charged prescriptions has fallen from 40.5 per cent of the total in 1977 to 19.6 per cent in 1999. No-charge contraceptives have fallen from 1.9 per cent of the total to 0.8 per cent over the same time.