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Price to be written on NHS-prescribed medicine costing more than £20 Price to be written on NHS-prescribed medicine costing more than £20
(about 5 hours later)
All drugs costing more than £20 that the NHS issues to patients will have their price written on them in a drive to encourage people to complete the full course of medication.All drugs costing more than £20 that the NHS issues to patients will have their price written on them in a drive to encourage people to complete the full course of medication.
From next year, those medicines will also carry the words “funded by the UK taxpayer” to remind people that the NHS, which is cash-strapped and facing increasing demand, has finite resources.From next year, those medicines will also carry the words “funded by the UK taxpayer” to remind people that the NHS, which is cash-strapped and facing increasing demand, has finite resources.
Research shows that between 30% and 50% of patients do not take the drugs they have been prescribed in the way doctors or nurses intended or as indicated by the instructions.Research shows that between 30% and 50% of patients do not take the drugs they have been prescribed in the way doctors or nurses intended or as indicated by the instructions.
The health secretary, Jeremy Hunt, unveiled the move on Wednesday in a speech about the need for people to demonstrate much more personal responsibility for their health in order to reduce their chances of becoming ill and to reduce the strain on the NHS.The health secretary, Jeremy Hunt, unveiled the move on Wednesday in a speech about the need for people to demonstrate much more personal responsibility for their health in order to reduce their chances of becoming ill and to reduce the strain on the NHS.
“We intend to publish the indicative medicine costs to the NHS on he packs of all medicines costing more than £20, which will also be marked ‘funded by the UK taxpayer’,” Hunt told council leaders at the Local Government Association’s annual conference in Harrogate. “We intend to publish the indicative medicine costs to the NHS on the packs of all medicines costing more than £20, which will also be marked ‘funded by the UK taxpayer’,” Hunt told council leaders at the Local Government Association’s annual conference in Harrogate.
“This will not just reduce waste by reminding people of the cost of medicine, but also improve patient care by boosting adherence to drug regimes.”“This will not just reduce waste by reminding people of the cost of medicine, but also improve patient care by boosting adherence to drug regimes.”
His aim is to prompt more patients to take their medication as directed rather than to reduce the NHS’s £13.3bn annual expenditure on drugs, Department of Health officials said. They said he does not want patients to use the new information to ask for, or doctors to prescribe, cheaper drugs.His aim is to prompt more patients to take their medication as directed rather than to reduce the NHS’s £13.3bn annual expenditure on drugs, Department of Health officials said. They said he does not want patients to use the new information to ask for, or doctors to prescribe, cheaper drugs.
Wasted medicine costs the NHS an estimated £300m a year. However, the DH’s own research in 2010 found that just £150m of that was avoidable and most was caused by illness progressing and treatment changing rather than failures by patients or doctors. Wasted medicine costs the NHS an estimated £300m a year. However, the department’s own research in 2010 found that just £150m of that was avoidable and most was caused by illness progressing and treatment changing rather than failures by patients or doctors.
Hunt also wants patients to understand that “there is no such thing as a free health service” by not missing their GP consultation or hospital appointment, which cost £162m and £750m a year.Hunt also wants patients to understand that “there is no such thing as a free health service” by not missing their GP consultation or hospital appointment, which cost £162m and £750m a year.
But the body representing high street pharmacists said the plan would not work and could backfire.But the body representing high street pharmacists said the plan would not work and could backfire.
“Pharmacy Voice believes that although this may seem superficially attractive, there is little evidence that it will have the desired effect, and there may be unintended negative consequences,” said a spokesman for the organisation, which represents over 10,000 of Britain’s 11,500 high-street chemists.“Pharmacy Voice believes that although this may seem superficially attractive, there is little evidence that it will have the desired effect, and there may be unintended negative consequences,” said a spokesman for the organisation, which represents over 10,000 of Britain’s 11,500 high-street chemists.
“The value of a medicine to an individual is about a good deal more than the price. Research shows that some patients, particularly older people, could be deterred from taking the medicines they need because they are worried about the impact on the public purse,” he added.“The value of a medicine to an individual is about a good deal more than the price. Research shows that some patients, particularly older people, could be deterred from taking the medicines they need because they are worried about the impact on the public purse,” he added.
Encouraging correct use of drugs and examining repeat prescriptions would be more effective at tackling waste than displaying their price, he said.Encouraging correct use of drugs and examining repeat prescriptions would be more effective at tackling waste than displaying their price, he said.
The Royal Pharmaceutical Society, which represents 45,000 of Britain’s 55,000 registered pharmacists, also voiced scepticism. Neil Patel, a spokesman, agreed that reducing the £150m of avoidable drug wastage was important.The Royal Pharmaceutical Society, which represents 45,000 of Britain’s 55,000 registered pharmacists, also voiced scepticism. Neil Patel, a spokesman, agreed that reducing the £150m of avoidable drug wastage was important.
He said: “Although knowledge of the cost of medicines may play a part, it’s equally important we focus on factors such as people’s understanding of the side effects and benefits from medicines which will also influence whether a condition is treated effectively or the medicine ends up in the bin.”He said: “Although knowledge of the cost of medicines may play a part, it’s equally important we focus on factors such as people’s understanding of the side effects and benefits from medicines which will also influence whether a condition is treated effectively or the medicine ends up in the bin.”