Drugs and Pharmacy

The NHS Business Services Authority publishes the prescribing costs in hospitals and the community for England, which are available at the following link:

www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/statistical-collections/prescribing-costs-hospitals-and-community-england

The Department has not made a recent assessment on the potential implications for policies based on trends in the level of the cost of medicines, however we have well established mechanisms to control the level of spend on medicines. For example, the voluntary scheme for branded medicines’ pricing, access, and growth, the statutory scheme for branded medicines to control the growth in sales of branded medicines, and National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s evaluations ensure the cost effectiveness of spend on new medicines. We are engaging with stakeholders through the National Health Service 10 Year Plan to consider the role of the life sciences and the affordability of medicines in building an NHS fit for the future.

We are aware of the reduction in the number of pharmacies in recent years and recognise that pharmacy closures can impact on local communities. Local authorities are required to undertake a pharmaceutical needs assessment (PNA) every three years to assess whether their population is adequately served, and must keep these assessments under review. Integrated care boards give regard to the PNAs when reviewing applications from the new contractors. Contractors can also apply to open a new pharmacy to offer benefits to patients that were not foreseen by the PNA.

Patients can also access approximately 400 Distance Selling Pharmacies who must operate nationally, and send medicines to patients’ home free of charge. In rural areas dispensing doctors can also supply medicines.