Diabetes drugs account for ten per cent of NHS prescribing bill

A report from the Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC) found that there were over 47 million items prescribed for diabetes in 2014/15, with a net ingredient cost of £868.6 million. Diabetes prescriptions account for 4.5 per cent of all items prescribed, and ten per cent of total prescribing costs.

6.7 million items of insulin were prescribed, at a cost of £334.7 million, as well as 33.4 million further antidiabetic drugs, at a cost of £350.2 million.

Ian Bullard, who wrote the report, said: "It shows that 10p in the pound of the primary care prescribing bill in England is being spent on managing diabetes.

"Diabetes continues to be one of the most prevalent long-term conditions, and the number of patients being diagnosed with the condition is increasing each year."

Read the report

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This story was first published in digitalhealth.net

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