INDEPENDENT COMMUNITY PHARMACY AVERAGE Rx CHARGE ROSE 9%

INDEPENDENT COMMUNITY PHARMACY AVERAGE Rx CHARGE ROSE 9% over 1985 charges, according to a preliminary Lilly Digest report previewing data that will appear in the final September publication. The report, which is based on an initial survey of 997 independent community pharmacies, found that "the average prescription charge was $14.23 during 1986, an increase of $1.19 over the 1985 figure of $13.04." Total prescriptions dispensed, which had been down 1.5% in 1985, increased 3.8% to 29,427. New prescriptions, up 4.6% at 14,730, accounted for 50.1% of total Rxs, compared to 49.7% in 1985. The average number of renewed prescriptions in 1986 rose 3.1% to 14,697. Higher Rx charges and dispensing rates together contributed to a 13.3% rise in Rx sales. Average sales were $418,601 in 1986 and $369,595 in 1985. Rx revenues accounted for 63.3% of total pharmacy sales in 1986 and 62.2% in 1985. The 13% growth in Rx sales "significantly outpaced the 8% increase in other sales," and contributed to an 11% gain in overall sales to $661,610, the preview noted. Prescription inventory was up 11.5% at $43,415, and represented 10.4% of sales, down slightly from 10.5% in 1985. Net profit rose 9.9% to $18,209, but remained stable as a percentage of sales at 2.8%.