Int J Pharm Pract 2001:9:197-202
Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Health Authority, John Keay House, St Austell, Cornwall, England PL25 4NQ
Michael Wilcock BSc (Hons), MRPharmS, pharmaceutical adviser
Correspondence: Mike.Wilcock@CIosHA.Cornwall.NHS.UK
Original Papers
Dispensing doctors and non-dispensing doctors — a comparison of their prescribing costs
MICHAEL WILCOCK
Objective — To compare and contrast the prescribing behaviour of non-dispensing doctors with that of dispensing doctors and to identify any fundamental differences in the use of specific drugs.Method — Analysis of Prescribing Analysis and Cost (PACT) data for 10 matched pairs of dispensing and non-dispensing practices in one health authority for the year 1997/98.
Key findings — Dispensing practices issued more items per patient than non-dispensing practices. Overall, the differences in net ingredient cost per patient and per age-sex-temporary-resident-orientated prescribing unit (ASTROPU) between the two types of practices were small. Dispensing practices had the greatest potential for savings were they to increase their use of generic drugs.
Conclusion — This analysis does not support the commonly held view that prescribing costs per patient for dispensing practices are substantially greater than for patients belonging to non-dispensing practices. The main differences between the two groups of practices are that dispensing practices issue more prescriptions and have a reluctance to prescribe generically.