Bernard J. Durkan
Question:178 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the annual reduction in drug costs to each health board under the GMS since 1991; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers - GMS Drug Costs.
The Deputy will be aware that drug costs in the GMS scheme have shown a steady increase in recent years. This increase, similar to that experienced by most developed countries, has been attributed to increased consumption, and the availability of newer more sophisticated and, inevitably, more expensive medicines. Given the changing demographic profile of our population, and the developments in pharmaceutical technology, there can be no doubt that demand for medicines will increase in the years ahead with consequences for health expenditure.
In these circumstances it is my strategy to ensure that the resources dedicated to expenditure on medicines are used in the optimum manner and it is in this context that various initiatives in relation to improving prescribing practice have been launched over the last year.
The impact of these initiatives can be seen in the rate of change in expenditure by health boards on the GMS in 1993 compared to previous year specified by the Deputy as follows:—
|
1991£m |
1992£m |
% change1992 vs. 1991 |
1993 (prov)£m |
% change1993 vs. 1992 |
|
|
EHB |
33.9 |
39.1 |
15.34 |
40.8 |
4.35 |
|
MHB |
7.9 |
8.8 |
11.39 |
9.2 |
4.55 |
|
MWHB |
11.1 |
12.4 |
11.71 |
12.5 |
0.81 |
|
NEHB |
11.2 |
12.7 |
13.39 |
13.1 |
3.15 |
|
NWHB |
9.3 |
10.4 |
11.83 |
10.3 |
–0.96 |
|
SEHB |
13.7 |
15.6 |
13.87 |
15.8 |
1.28 |
|
SHB |
18.2 |
20.4 |
12.09 |
21.1 |
3.43 |
|
WHB |
15.0 |
16.7 |
11.33 |
16.7 |
0.00 |