AQW 13890/22-27

Ms Claire Sugden
Independent
East Londonderry

Tabled Date: 27/06/2024
Answered On Date: 11/07/2024
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Health, in relation to the General Pharmaceutical Services for Northern Ireland Annual Statistics 2023/24, to detail the reasons why the ingredient cost per prescription is nearly 30 per cent higher in Northern Ireland than in England and Wales.

Answer:

I welcome the publication of the General Pharmaceutical Services for Northern Ireland Annual Statistics 2023/24, published on 27 June 2024, which provide a comprehensive overview of the use of prescriptions in Northern Ireland. The statistics indicate that the average cost per prescription item in Northern Ireland was £11.05 in 2023/24, compared with £9.01 in England and £8.15 in Wales. Northern Ireland’s cost per item was 23% higher than in England and 36% higher than in Wales.

It should be noted that there are some differences in prescription dispensing and processing in Northern Ireland compared to other UK regions, e.g. in NI there is no outpatient dispensing. Varying prescribing practices may also affect the interpretation of UK comparisons and the figures may not be directly comparable across the UK due to these differences. An example of this relates to prescribing interval and how it appears to be shorter in Wales than other UK countries resulting in lower dose units prescribed per prescription item in Wales and correspondingly higher items per head statistics for Wales. This impacts the average cost per item data for Wales by lowering it to a greater extent than other UK regions. Other factors that may contribute to the higher number of prescription items in Northern Ireland include increased waiting list times, population trends, the number of people living with illnesses, deprivation levels and cultural and societal issues.

My Department is currently undertaking policy development on a new ‘Valuing Medicines’ strategy, which will aim to inform improvements in the use of medicines within Health and Social Care in Northern Ireland to ensure they add value to health, are cost effective and sustainable. The Department is working closely with stakeholders and health service staff including GPs and Community Pharmacists, with both a steering group and departmental working group established to consider a number of strategies to improve the cost-effective use of medicines in Northern Ireland.