The way to economic prescribing.
Concern about the size of the NHS drugs bill in the UK has resulted in three main policy initiatives by government: regular increases in prescription charges, the introduction of restrictions on the range of prescribable drugs, and the implementation of prescribing budgets. This paper argues that such policies, whilst reducing the NHS drugs bill, have given little consideration to the efficiency of prescribing. Other policy options are considered which may reduce the NHS drugs bill in ways more consistent with efficient prescribing.
Department of Public Health, University of Aberdeen, UK.
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M
Ryan
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Yule
D002017:Budgets; D003363:Cost Control / Q000379:methods; D016527:Drug Costs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends*; D016568:Drugs, Generic / Q000191:economics; D017598:Efficiency, Organizational; D005194:Family Practice / Q000191:economics; D005569:Formularies as Topic / Q000592:standards; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D011306:Prescription Fees / Q000639:trends; D013222:State Medicine / Q000191:economics* / Q000639:trends; D006113:United Kingdom