PCT achieves big savings in cost of drugs
Tuesday 19th May 2009
A primary care trust (PCT) has been successful in its drive to cut down on its spending on drugs.
According to reports in the Great Yarmouth Mercury, NHS Norfolk saved a total of £7.9 million last year by prescribing alternatives to big-brand drugs.
This was said to be the most significant saving of all PCTs in the country and the money which the PCT had left over as a result was used to reduce its debt levels.
As of 2010, pharmacists will be able to switch drugs on prescriptions written by doctors for generic alternatives unless the GP has specifically requested the brand.
Debi Bhattacharya, lecturer at the University of East Anglia's School of Pharmacy, said: "Most patients understand a cheaper one is as good and will save the NHS money, but some may think if it is cheaper it is not as good.
"The evidence is there is no difference in the drug, so what proportion of that is real and what is patient perception I don't know."
Ms Bhattacharya did a survey on doctor's attitudes to cheaper drugs last year.
Employing around 5,700 people, NHS Norfolk serves a population of more than 600,000 people.
Written by Megan Smith
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