asked the Minister for Health the total cost of drugs and medicines under the health services in 1963-64 and 1969-70 distinguishing between general medical services and hospital services; the principal causes of the substantial increases and how much of the increase can be attributed to each cause respectively; what steps are being taken to analyse the causes and to prevent any avoidable increases; and if he has any plans to prevent abuses under the scheme.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Cost of Drugs and Medicines.
24.
In the year 1963-64 the cost of drugs and medicines for the general medical services and for the hospital services was £608,000 and £1,409,000, respectively. The corresponding figures for 1969-70 were £2,429,000 and £3,070,000.
The principal factors which caused those increases were rising prices; the introduction of new and more expensive products; an increase in the number of persons covered by medical cards; the provision of drugs for "hardship" cases outside the lower income group and for diabetic patients and a big increase in the number of persons with psychiatric disorders being maintained in the community with the aid of tranquillising and other drugs. In the case of hospitals, there has also been an annual increase of about 4 per cent in the through-put of patients as well as more intensive treatment involving increased use of medicines but resulting in reducing the average duration of stay of patients making it possible to accommodate the increased demand with a much lesser number of extra beds than would otherwise be the case.
Details of the expenditure involved are not kept in such a way as would make it possible to relate the appropriate part of the increase to each particular factor mentioned. The new health boards and the voluntary hospitals are very conscious of the need to control expenditure on drugs and medicines as far as is consistent with the provision of an efficient service to the public. Pending developments in the health services will also help in this regard. For example, under the choice of doctor scheme which will come into operation next year and will supersede the existing dispensary service, a new pricing system of drugs and medicines will be in operation, which should prevent possible wasteful expenditure. I have already announced that regional hospital boards will be established with general functions of review of the finances and administration of hospital services, including the purchase and handling of drugs and medicines.