Net ingredient costs in Scotland have risen 3.7 per cent since 2016-17, due to price increases for items in short supply, new medicines and the move in supply of some high cost treatments from hospital to primary care, according to NHS Scotland prescribing data for 2017-18.
The report notes that pregabalin, used to treat epilepsy and chronic pain, had the highest total gross ingredient cost in 2017-18.
The total (net) cost for dispensing items and providing services in 2017-18 was £1.3 billion, an increase of 3.3 per cent compared to 2016-17 and 25.7 per cent over the last 10 years. Service remuneration paid to dispensing practices and to community pharmacies is detailed below.
NHS Scotland notes a marginal decline in prescribing volumes during the past year. Between 2016-17 and 2017-18 the volume decreased by 0.1 per cent compared to an increase of 1.2 per cent between 2015-16 and 2016-17.
| Fee payment category | Dispensing doctors (£m) 2017-18 | % +/- (£m) 2016-17 | Community pharmacies (£m) 2017-18 | % +/- (£m) 2016-17 |
| Items | 2.52 | -0.7 | 100.57 | -0.04 |
| Gross Ingred Cost | 19.12 | 1.59 | 1,126.95 | 2.66 |
| Net Ingred Cost | 18.41 | 1.6 | 1,092.94 | 3.75 |
| Gross total | 23.54 | 1.4 | 1,296.75 | 3.1 |
