The United Kingdom has well established systems for controlling costs and ensuring we get value for money for spending on medicines. For unbranded generic medicines the Department relies on competition to keep prices down. This has led to some of the lowest prices in Europe and allows prices to react to the market. In an international market this ensures that when demand is high and supply is low, prices in the UK can increase to help secure the availability of medicines for UK patients.

Where competition does not appear to be working, the Department alerts the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA). Where the CMA finds that a company has breached competition law by charging excessive prices it can impose a fine as well as order companies to reduce their prices. In those instances, the Department will seek damages and invest that money back into the National Health Service. Investigations and infringements decisions by the CMA are publicly available on the CMA’s website.

The average Net Ingredient Cost (NIC) per prescription item for Phenytoin written in the United Kingdom and dispensed in England is set out below. Information is split by Phenytoin and Phenytoin Sodium with a figure provided for the total.

Prescription items and NIC per prescription item (£)

Source: Prescription Cost Analysis

Information is not held centrally on the costs of treating a patient with phenytoin.

The Department has estimated the additional cost to the national health service, from the repricing of the Epanutin form of phenytoin sodium, to be around £44 million per annum. We have considered this cost in the context of the overall drugs bill, the dynamics of the medicines market, with prices rising and falling in response to supply and demand, and the potential additional costs to the NHS through adverse reactions and reduced patient outcomes if supply is interrupted.

We have received a number of representations from hon. Members, representative groups, colleagues in the national health service and the manufacturer about the recent increase in the price of phenytoin capsules, following the acquisition of the marketing authorisation by Flynn Pharma Ltd from Pfizer and the effects on NHS budgets.

The Department has estimated the additional cost to the national health service, from the repricing of the Epanutin form of phenytoin, to be around £44 million per annum.

We have received a number of representations from hon. Members and colleagues in the NHS about the recent increase in the price of phenytoin capsules, following the acquisition of the marketing authorisation by Flynn Pharma Ltd from Pfizer and the effects on NHS budgets.

The Department has estimated the additional cost to the national health service, from the repricing of the Epanutin form of phenytoin, to be around £44 million per annum.

We have received a number of representations from hon. Members and colleagues in the NHS about the recent increase in the price of phenytoin capsules, following the acquisition of the marketing authorisation by Flynn Pharma Ltd from Pfizer and the effects on NHS budgets.