Scottish prescription bill soars through £1bn mark

Published on Tuesday 29 September 2009 22:23

THE cost of prescriptions to the NHS in Scotland has increased to £1.07 billion.

From 598 million ten years ago, the new total equates to 196.20 for every person registered with a GP.

The new annual figures published yesterday also reflect the volume of prescriptions, which grew by 4.3 per cent in the past year to 85.5 million items, and higher production costs.

The Scottish Government is phasing out prescription charges, but opponents say the policy favours wealthier families without helping those on low incomes. Liberal Democrat health spokesman Ross Finnie said: "The drugs budget continues to rise, but the SNP is still determined to give free prescriptions to the rich.

"When money is tight, people will question a government that spends precious resources on policies that help well-off people in Scotland but do nothing to help the poorest."

The data, published by ISD Scotland, showed that aspirin was the most prescribed drug. The most expensive was Atorvastatin, which is used to control cholesterol.

The average person was prescribed 15 items a year, an increase from 11 in a decade.