Synopsis: |
It is estimated that around a quarter of all expenditure in primary care is on drugs. In 1996, the number of prescriptions dispensed in England was 485 million; by 2006 this had increased by 55 per cent to 752 million, with the primary care drugs bill increasing from GBP 4.0 billion to GBP 8.2 billion - a 60 per cent increase."Department of Health: Prescribing Costs in Primary Care (HC 173)" examines the cost of prescriptions in primary care, with evidence taken from the Department of Health, on the basis of an earlier report from the National Audit Office ("Prescribing Costs in Primary Care (HC 454)" - ISBN 0102945179).The NHS could save more than GBP 200 million a year by GPs prescribing lower cost drugs, particularly those described as generic versions of the drug, as opposed to brand name drugs. The proportion of lower cost prescriptions for some common conditions varies greatly between Primary Care Trusts (PCTs), and the Strategic Health Authorities should work with the National Prescribing Centre to develop best practice in prescriptions. An index comparing GP practices and PCTs on efficient prescribing might promote a culture of best practice.The influence of pharmaceutical companies on prescribing decisions should be monitored by the Department of Health, with a minimal level set for gifts and hospitality offered by such companies to GPs and PCTs. There should be better information on unused and wasted drugs in the NHS, with an estimated cost of GBP 100 million a year.The Department of Health should explore with the pharmaceutical industry to achieve greater consistency in labelling and packaging of generic versions of the more common drugs supplied to the NHS. |