National Health Service (Wales) Act 2006

Main expenditure

3 (1) For each financial year, the Welsh Ministers must apportion among all Local Health Boards, in such manner as they consider appropriate, the total of the remuneration referable to the cost of drugs which is paid by each Local Health Board in that year.

(2) A Local Health Board is accountable in any year for remuneration referable to the cost of drugs to the extent (and only to the extent) that such remuneration is apportioned to it under sub-paragraph (1).

(3) Where in any financial year any remuneration referable to the cost of drugs for which a Local Health Board is accountable is paid by another Local Health Board, the remuneration must be treated (for the purposes of sections 174 and 175) as having been paid by the first Local Health Board in the performance of its functions.

(4) The Welsh Ministers may, in particular, exercise their discretion under sub-paragraph (1)—

(a) so that any apportionment reflects, in the case of each Local Health Board, the financial consequences of orders for the provision of drugs, being orders which in the opinion of the Welsh Ministers are attributable to the Board in question,

(b) by reference to averaged or estimated amounts.

(5) The Welsh Ministers may make provision for any remuneration referable to the cost of drugs which is paid by a Local Health Board other than the Board which is accountable for the payment to be reimbursed in such manner as the Welsh Ministers may determine.