AQW 47487/11-15

Ms Claire Sugden
Independent
East Londonderry

Tabled Date: 19/06/2015
Answered On Date: 30/11/2015
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail (i) the value of rebate payments from the Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme (PPRS) since 2014; and (ii) how this money has been spent.

Answer:

Receipts due to Northern Ireland under the terms of the Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme (PPRS) are paid directly by the Department of Health to the Health and Social Care Board. Since 1 January 2014, the apportioned returns to Northern Ireland from the PPRS total £36 m, which includes residual payments from the previous scheme (2009).

PPRS receipts of £16.7 m were received in the 2014/15 financial year and were used to offset £21m growth in expenditure on branded medicines in 2014/15 compared with 2013/14.

PPRS receipts received in 2015/16 are also being used to offset the growth pressure in branded medicines. The HSC Board estimates that it will receive a total of £39m in PPRS receipts for 2015/16. However, it is estimated that the growth pressure for expenditure on branded medicines in 2015/16 will be £43m compared with 2013/14.