Scotland’s annual drug prescription bill soars to almost £1bn

THE number of drug prescriptions in Scotland has soared by almost 3 million after the charges were scrapped, official figures have shown.

It came as Scotland’s drug bill increased to almost £1 billion in 2011, after increasing by £21 million on the previous year.

The £3 cost of a single prescription was abolished last April, having been gradually reduced from £6.85 since 2007.

Official health service statistics showed the gross total payments to Scottish dispensing contractors, mainly local pharmacists, increased from £1.16 billion in 2010 to £1.18 billion last year.

The reimbursement costs of the actual drugs continues to increase, from £951 million in 2010 to £972 million in 2011.

However, the cost for remuneration of services has gone down to about £1.7 million (0.8%) from £207.4 million in 2010 to £205.7 million in 2011.