Welfare Reform on the Web (July 2000): National Health Service - Funding

CONSULTATION ON PROPOSAL TO SET MAXIMUM PRICES FOR SALE OF GENERIC MEDICINES TO COMMUNITY PHARMACIES AND DISPENSING DOCTORS

Department of Health

2000

Dramatic proposals will force drug companies to cut prices of generic medicines back to September 1998 levels and abolish the category-D scheme which reimburses pharmacists for dispensing more expensive brand-name products when generic alternatives are not available.

FIGHTING NHS FRAUD AND CORRUPTION

D. McNeil

British Journal of Healthcare Management, vol. 6, 2000, p. 162-163

Overview of recent developments to combat fraud and corruption in the NHS nationally under the Directorate of Counter-Fraud Services.

THE PFI CONTRACT FOR THE NEW DARTFORD AND GRAVESHAM HOSPITAL

Committee of Public Accounts

London: TSO, 2000 (House of Commons papers. Session 1999/2000; HC 131)

The NHS Executive now expects the PFI deal for the new Dartford and Gravesham Hospital to result in savings of £5 million compared with an equivalent project under conventionally funded procurement instead of the £17 million originally estimated. Report concludes that the NHS failed to estimate the costs correctly; that the Trust failed to detect significant errors in the public sector comparator; that the Trust did not understand the full range of risks and potential rewards available to the private sector; and that the NHS must use its experience of the PFI to drive down advisers' costs.