PPA suggests writing off backlog of generic drugs

11 Nov 99
The Prescription Pricing Authority has suggested setting aside its prescription backlog, wiping out two months' data, as one way of getting future prescribing information to health authorities and primary care groups on time.

12 November 1999

In evidence to last week's emergency inquiry by the health select committee into the generic drugs' crisis, the beleaguered PPA admitted it was holding discussions with Department of Health officials about making a 'fresh start on the latest month's prescriptions'.

But NHS managers reacted with outrage to the suggestion. One health authority finance director said the move was 'unthinkable'.

Tim Jones, policy manager at the NHS Confederation, said: 'Writing the backlog off is a non-starter. It doesn't help us manage budgets. We wouldn't want to lose that data. It is valuable now but it could be even more valuable in the future.'

The PPA said it had three options for dealing with the backlog: write it off completely, process a sample of prescriptions to improve the estimated payments to pharmacists or process the backlog over time, which it said would be a 'slow process'.

In a statement to Public Finance, the Department of Health confirmed that setting aside the backlog was one possibility under consideration.

The NHS Confederation believes that PCGs will overspend their drugs budget by 3.6% this year, taking into account the rising cost of generics and the 4.5% reduction on branded drugs negotiated as part of the Pharmaceutical Pricing Regulation Scheme. With an overall primary care drugs budget of £4.7bn, this would mean an overspend of £170m.

PFnov1999

Did you enjoy this article?

AddToAny

Top