The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 273 No 7318 p409
25 September 2004

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Medicines bill rises with publication of NSFs

Implementation of national service frameworks (NSFs) may have a significant effect on the UK medicines bill, according to the Office of Health Economics.

Speaking at the launch of the 16th Compendium of Health Statistics this week, Peter Yuen, head of statistics at the OHE and author of the compendium, pointed out that the greater volume of medicines prescribed each year appears to follow the pattern of health priorities outlined in NSFs.

Since the launch of the coronary heart disease NSF in 2000, for example, the volume of cardiovascular drugs dispensed has risen from a 21.9 per cent share of total prescription items in 1999, to a 27.7 per cent share in 2003. Prescribing of lipid-lowering drugs has more than doubled over this period, from a 1.5 per cent share of total prescription items to a 3.5 per cent share.

Mr Yuen also pointed out that the number of prescription items dispensed for elderly people has increased from an average of 25 items per person per year in 1999, to 35 items per person per year in 2003, despite the NSF for Older People calling for reductions in polypharmacy.

Between 1999 and 2003 spending on medicines in the UK increased by 34 per cent, which falls in line with a 36 per cent overall increase in real NHS spend. According to the OHE statistics, there were 12,115 pharmacies under contract to the NHS in 2003, 1.6 per cent less than a decade earlier. However, the workload of pharmacies has increased, rising by an average of 4 per cent each year since 1993. The OHE says that the rise in UK prescribing may be attributable to increases in the overall population, especially the proportion of elderly people, the number of new medicines that have become available and increasing public expectations.

The compendium can be obtained by telephoning 020 7930 9203; price £399 for the ring-bound version or £798 for both the bound and on-line compendium (£89 and £178, respectively for public sector organisations). Details at www.ohecompendium.org