Primary Care Diabetes Prescriptions Cost UK Over £2 Million a Day
Prescriptions to manage diabetes in primary care in the UK cost the NHS an average of £2.2 million ($3.7 m) every day in 2013-14, according to a report from the Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC).
Prescriptions to manage diabetes in primary care in the UK cost the NHS an average of £2.2 million ($3.7 m) every day in 2013-14, according to a report from the Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC).
The report, Prescribing for Diabetes, also shows the Net Ingredient Cost (NIC) for managing diabetes was £803.1 million ($1,347 m) in 2013–14. This is a 5.1 per cent increase from £764.1 million in 2012–13 (£2.1 million per day on average) and a 56.3 per cent increase on £2005-06 (£1.4 million per day on average).
Almost 10 per cent (9.5 per cent) of the NHS’s total primary care drugs bill was spent on managing diabetes, revealing a continuous annual rise from 6.6 per cent in 2005–06.
THe HSCIC report shows that in primary care in 2013-14:
- There were 45.1 million prescription items for managing diabetes, an average of 123,610 items per day.
- Insulin items can be prescribed for both type 1 and type 2 diabetes and accounted for about one in seven items prescribed for diabetes.
- Seven out of ten diabetes prescription items were for anti diabetic drugs, which are prescribed only for type 2 diabetes.
- Diagnositic and monitoring devices made up the remainder of diabetes items prescribed and the majority of these were blood glucose testing strips.
- Costs of all three categories of diabetes drugs have increased from 2005-06 but in particular insulin items where the rise in spending was 11.6 per cent higher than the rise in items prescribed.
Addressing Disparities in Psoriasis Trials: Takeda's Strategies for Inclusivity in Clinical Research
April 14th 2025LaShell Robinson, Head of Global Feasibility and Trial Equity at Takeda, speaks about the company's strategies to engage patients in underrepresented populations in its phase III psoriasis trials.
Beyond the Prescription: Pharma's Role in Digital Health Conversations
April 1st 2025Join us for an insightful conversation with Jennifer Harakal, Head of Regulatory Affairs at Canopy Life Sciences, as we unpack the evolving intersection of social media and healthcare decisions. Discover how pharmaceutical companies can navigate regulatory challenges while meaningfully engaging with consumers in digital spaces. Jennifer shares expert strategies for responsible marketing, working with influencers, and creating educational content that bridges the gap between patients and healthcare providers. A must-listen for pharma marketers looking to build trust and compliance in today's social media landscape.
Asembia 2025: Therapy Advancements Highlight Growing Cost and Access Concerns
April 30th 2025Fran Gregory, VP, emerging therapies, Cardinal Health, discusses the evolving cell and gene therapy landscape, highlighting pipeline growth, cost challenges, and emerging therapeutic areas beyond oncology and hematology.
