The investment of £4m in counter-fraud measures has led to savings of £36m, according to the Department of Health.
Lord Philip Hunt (Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health) said on December 29 that prescription fraud by patients had been cut by almost 40 per cent. This had been achieved through close working with community pharmacists and dispensing doctors.
"This is only the start," Lord Hunt said. "We will now redouble our efforts to counter all fraud against the NHS."