Drug price reductions save £700m
Recently negotiated branded and generic drug price reductions have delivered NHS savings of almost £700m to date, rising to over £950m for the past year, according to the Department of Health's Chief Executive's report
to the NHS, published last month.
This has been the single biggest saving for the NHS to date. However,
the report also states that meeting demands for new drugs and services
is one of the main challenges for the NHS.
The report, which describes activity in the NHS over the past year, and
since the publication of the NHS Plan, shows that hospital waiting lists
have been reduced, and that over 98 per cent of patients presenting at
accident and emergency departments are now being seen within four hours.
Early deaths from cancer, coronary heart disease and suicide have reduced
following improved services.
The report also notes that there is scope for further extension of pharmacists'
roles.
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Hospital Pharmacist