• 1 in 10 medicines in Scotland are wasted – this costs NHS Grampian millions of pounds each year 

This represents a significant amount of wasted resource both of medicines and finances that could be used for the health needs of the population of Grampian.                      

The cost of individual medicines varies greatly, so this volume will not directly represent 1/10th of the spend on medicines.   (National reports in 2010 previously estimated 2010 as £1 in every £25 spent) 

Even though prescriptions, and medicines on Pharmacy First, are supplied free to the population of Scotland each individual Health Board is required to pay these costs.  

• Prescription medicines cost NHS Grampian over £121 million in 2023/2024 (this doesn’t include medicines prescribed or supplied in the Grampian hospitals). 

That equates to over £10 million pounds every month.   

Even small changes to help reduce unused medicines and waste will have a significant impact. 

• NHS Grampian spends over £1.4 million each year just on paracetamol. Paracetamol, ibuprofen and many other over the counter medicines cost as little as 38p if you buy them with your weekly shop.  However, the costs to the NHS for prescribing these is much higher – up to £35 – when you include the cost of the consultation. 

There are a number of medicines for common, short term conditions that can be bought over the counter. It is much cheaper to buy medicines in this way than the costs when they are prescribed.   

Medicines prescribed cost  

• the cost of the medicines 

but also 

• the cost of the consultation with doctor or pharmacist 

• the cost of preparing the prescription – administration time, GP and pharmacist time 

It is advisable to have a small range of homely remedies for common conditions – these might include – pain killers (e.g. paracetamol), laxatives and antihistamines. 

                                               

Published: 16/07/2024 12:44