For many years, in the UK, local health authorities were responsible for administering the prescription charging regime. In October 2002, however, this role passed to the Prescriptions Pricing Authority (PPA). The PPA’s role was to calculate drug and appliance prices, and make appropriate payments to pharmacists and contractors and maintain the Drug Tariff which contained the reimbursement prices of prescribable products and repayment rules.

See also:
Prescriptions Pricing Authority (PPA)
Drug tariff
Prescribing Analysis and Cost (PACT)
NHS Executive