Page last updated: 30-JUN-2009

Prescription Charges

ONS kitemark

Statistical Publication Notice

30 June 2009

Prescription Charges.

INTRODUCTION

In 2007 the Scottish Government published plans to abolish prescription charges by 2011.  Since then the costs of both the individual prescription charge and prescription prepayment certificates (PPCs) have been reduced.  Statistics are presented for financial years 2004/05 to 2008/09 to monitor the effect of the decreasing cost on prescriptions in Scotland.
 
Statistics shown include a five year trend of the total volume of prescriptions dispensed by exemption category grouping (holds a PPC, pays for single prescription items at the point of issue, or is exempt from paying any charge).  The total gross ingredient cost (GIC) to the NHS for dispensed drugs is also shown by exemption group category.
 
Statistics also show a four year trend of the volume of PPCs sold to patients.  This is the first time PPC volume data have been released by ISD.

KEY POINTS

  • The number of items dispensed continues to increase.  The number of prescription items dispensed in Scotland (excluding Minor Ailment Service & Stock Order) increased by 4% to 84.2 million from 2007/08 to 2008/09. Over the same period, the gross ingredient cost increased to £957.4 million (1%).
  • Almost 200,000 (118%) more prescription prepayment certificates (PPCs) were sold in 2008/09 compared to 2007/08.
  • During 2008/09 the number of items dispensed where the patient held a valid PPC increased by 31% to 4.7 million items from 2007/08.  The cost of drugs dispensed on these prescriptions rose by 23% to £61.0 million from 2007/08.
  • During 2008/09 the number of items dispensed where the patient paid a charge at the point of issue decreased by 15% to 5.1 million items. The cost of drugs dispensed on these prescriptions decreased by 23% to £53.6million.

INTERPRETATION

For the purpose of these analyses, total prescriptions do not include Minor Ailment Service (MAS) and Stock Order (SO) forms because prescriptions written on these form types are exempt from charges.  An example of a stock order item is influenza vaccinations.  In addition, only those items both prescribed and dispensed in Scotland are included in the analyses.


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MAIN CONTACTS:

Caroline Murray
Information Analyst/Statistician
Healthcare Information Group (Prescribing)
0141 282 2118
Caroline.Murray@nhs.net

Joanne Collins
Senior Information Analyst/Statistician
Healthcare Information Group (Prescribing)
0131 275 6760
JoanneCollins@nhs.net

Jane Chisholm
Principal Information Analyst 
Healthcare Information Group (Prescribing)
0131 275 6197
Jane.Chisholm@nhs.net

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GLOSSARY:

An item is an individual product prescribed on a prescription.  Where the patient is eligible to pay the prescription charge he/she is charged £4 per item (from April 2009).
 
Gross ingredient cost (GIC) is the NHS reimbursement cost of drugs, dressings or appliances before the deduction of any discount.  It excludes any dispensing or fitting fees.
 
The Minor Ailment Service (MAS) is for patients who are exempt from paying a charge on their prescriptions.  Additional related information on eligibility for MAS can be found at: http://www.isdscotland.org/isd/5033.html
 
An example of a Stock Order (SO) is where a GP writes a prescription to the pharmasist, on a form specifically for SO, to order flu vaccinations.  There is no charge applied to these form types.
 
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PRE-RELEASE ACCESS TO THIS PUBLICATION:

Under terms of the ?Pre-Release Access to Official Statistics (Scotland) Order 2008?, ISD are obliged to publish information on those receiving Pre-Release Access (?Pre-Release Access? refers to statistics in their final form prior to publication). The standard maximum Pre-Release Access is five working days. Shown below are details of those receiving standard Pre-Release Access and, separately, those receiving extended Pre-Release Access.
 
Standard (five day) Pre-Release Access:
Scottish Government Health Department (Analytical Services Division)
NHS Board Chief Executives
NHS Board Communication leads
 
Extended Pre-Release Access:
Scottish Government Health Department (Analytical Services Division)
This extended Pre-Release Access is given to a small number of named individuals in the Scottish Government Health Department (Analytical Services Division). This Pre-Release Access is for the sole purpose of enabling that department to gain an understanding of the statistics prior to briefing others in Scottish Government (during the period of standard Pre-Release Access).
Scottish Government ASD Health
NHS Board Chief Executives and Communications Managers
 
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HISTORY OF THIS PUBLICATION:

Last Published:  n/a
Next Due: 29/09/2009
Data Avaliable Since: General information on the cost of a single prescription, and the percentage of prescriptions dispensed free of charge has been published since March 1980.  This is the first time exemption grouping data have been released.


Main contact: Email Caroline Murray