Cheaper generics save UK's NHS GBP400M a year, study confirms

In 2007 the UK's National Audit Office reported that Primary Care Trusts could save more than GBP200.0 million ($305.8 million) a year without  compromising patient care if general practitioners prescribed cheaper,  generic drugs. Keele University has now confirmed the NAO's finding by  calculating that almost GBP400.0 million has been saved by the Department  of Health, the National Health Service and PCTs in England, through more  cost-effective prescribing as recommended in the NAO report.

The largest savings were made on statins, with GBP277.0 million saved in  2008. The Strategic Health Authority which made the biggest economies  over the year was the north west, which made savings of over GBP70.0  million.

Responding to the Keele findings, Kim Innes, chairman of the British  Generic Manufacturing Association, said: "we make the NHS drugs bill  affordable; these figures are an excellent indication of that. Without  generics, the drugs bill would be approximately twice its current level.  The BGMA is very pleased to see that PCTs are recognizing the benefits  of using generic medicines whilst at the same time making more money  available to improve the quality of patient care."