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Prescriptions: Fees and Charges

Answer

Further to the previous answer of 4 July 2025 to Question HL8754, the breakdown of the total Net Ingredient Cost (NIC) figure is as follows:

• for colostomy, in 2023/24, there were a total of 491,601 items dispensed to patients in the community in England where the item prescribed was clearly named as a colostomy appliance for which no National Health Service charges were collected at the point of dispensing, with a total NIC of £110,834,133.28; and
• for ileostomy, in 2023/24, there were a total of 808,049 items dispensed to patients in the community in England where the item prescribed was clearly named as an ileostomy appliance for which no NHS charges were collected at the point of dispensing, with a total NIC of £128,445,887.47.

These figures exclude a large number of other stoma appliances that could not be clearly identified as colostomy or ileostomy from their name, although some of these other appliances will be used as colostomy or ileostomy appliances.

The NIC is the basic price of a product excluding VAT. It does not take account of discounts, dispensing costs, fees and allowances paid to pharmacists and appliance contractors for the service they provide to the NHS, or prescription charge income received, where the single charge or Prescription Prepayment Certificate fee is paid, or foregone, where prescriptions are dispensed free of charge.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

HL9106

Session

2024-26

Related items

Prescriptions: Fees and Charges
Friday, 4 July 2025
Written questions
House of Lords

Subjects

Costs Fees and charges Medical treatments Prescriptions Medical equipment

Contains statistics

Yes

Link

View this Written question on www.parliament.uk