uk health spending plans for 1998-1999

12 REGULATORY & HEALTH CA RE NEWS

UK health spending plans for 1998-1999

The UK National Health Service (r-:HS) drugs bill is expected to rise by 5.79i: during 1997-1998. accordi ng 10 the UK government's spending plans for 1998-1999. recently published by the Department of

Health. This increase is simi lar to the average of 5.6~ reported over the last 10 years.

In a move to facilitate more dfcetive prescribing. Apri l 1999 will sec the merging of budgets for general practice prescribing with those for hospital and comm unity health services.·

In addition, 2 pilot projects arc 10 experiment with extending the roJe of community pharmacists. and further pilot projects are investigating the impact of nurse prescribing. There will be ongoing support for the Prescribing Rationally with Decision Support in General Practice Study (PRODIGY), and the Nalional Prescribing Centre and the Prescribing Support Unit will continue their work . • Ut Qiso CurrtntlHu~s stction. this iHUt. p6; 800670729

t:K :-;HS spending plan. 19'98·9'9. Maritelkl~r ~.5 : II. 20 Apr ]998 .... ."., ..

1173-550:W8/0161.ooo12J$01 .oif' Adle interrl8tioMl Umilld 111M. All r~ __