FOI 2011 – 16
Request
Date Received:21/02/11
I am trying to find data for the total number of prescriptions issued
during financial year 2009-10, for the following generic drugs which are
all from the SSRI (Selective seretonin reuptake inhibitor) group of
drugs:
citalopram, dapoxetine, escitalopram, fluoxetine, fluvoxamine,
indalpine, paroxetine, sertraline, vilazodone, zimelidine.
Further to this, I have looked on your website for information related
to the total number of prescriptions issued during 2009-10, and the
number of these prescriptions which were not paid, but were exempt from
payment.
Finally, what percentage of all prescriptions are checked to ensure the
patient is entitled to be exempt, and how many of these patients were
pursued for non-payment of a prescription when they should have paid.
Response
Date of Response:22/03/11
1. / The total number of prescriptions issued during the financial year 2009-10 for the following generic drugs: citalopram, dapoxetine, escitalopram, fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, indalpine, paroxetine, sertraline, vilazodone, zimelidine all of which are from the SSRI (Selective seretonin reuptake inhibitor) group of drugs:
Response: / The information requested is set out below:
Drug / Number of Prescription
Items Dispensed
Citalopram / 348,349
Escitalopram / 173,731
Fluoxetine / 307,417
Fluvoxamine maleate / 1,113
Paroxetine / 56,278
Sertraline hydrochloride / 146,734
You will note that BSO has been unable to provide information on dapoxetine, indapline, vilazodone and zimelidine as these drugs do not appear in the current BNF nor in the BSO drug masterfile, which provides BSO with a unique code, enabling analysis of prescriptions and payments for particular drugs. You are also asked to note that the BSO does not hold information on the number of prescriptions issued but by the number of prescription items dispensed therefore this information has been provided on that basis.
2. / The total number of prescriptions issued during 2009-10, and the number of these prescriptions which were not paid, but were exempt from payment.
Response: / As advised above, BSO does not hold information on the number of prescriptions issued by GPs. BSO holds information on prescriptions dispensed and submitted for payment to BSO only, and this totals 34,262,559 in 2009/10 which included all prescription items dispensed by chemists, appliance contractors and dispensing doctors. The total number of items where a prescription charge was collected was 1,482,197.
3. / What percentage of all prescriptions are checked to ensure the patient is entitled to be exempt, and how many patients were pursued for non-payment of a prescription when they should have paid.
Response: / During 2009/10, patient claims to exemption from statutory prescription charges in respect of 73,734 prescription items were checked. This equated to 0.22% of the total prescription items for which payment was claimed. In respect of the information provided you are asked to note the following:
  1. information on prescription charges relates only to items where a charge was collected at point of dispensing.
b. Items which are exempt from prescription charges ie contraceptives are included in total items.
  1. Items which have been dispensed to patients holding prepayment certificates are included.
Additional checks were required to be carried out on 5,427 patients. Of these, 72% of the claims to exemption from charges in question were validated. Recovery of unpaid charges was pursued for the remaining 1,520 patients.
NOTE: These documents are available on Application to