Generic cholesterol drugs ‘could save NHS millions’

More efficient prescribing of anti-cholesterol drugs could save the NHS millions of pound, according to recently published figures.

Statistics published in the Better Care, Better Value indicate that the NHS could save 85 million pounds annually by showing greater efficiency in its prescription of drug lowering drug statins.

The Department of Health reports that the cost of statins to the NHS last year was 600 million pounds and recommended increased prescription of generic forms of the drug, such as pravastatin and simvastatin in favour of more expensive branded versions.

It forecast that prescriptions of these forms of drugs in 69 per cent of cases could save the NHS ?84.7 million a year.

Andy Burnham, health minister, commented that as new pharmaceutical products become available, the health service would have to closely monitor the value for money of these treatments.

“Statin prescription is one of the areas that can release the most savings which can be ploughed back into patient care,” he said.

He added that doctors could treat a greater number of patients by using clinically appropriate lower-priced drugs, noting that the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) had confirmed the equivalent efficacy of generic statins.

Recently published NICE guidelines have stated that anyone in England with a 20 per cent or greater chance of a heart attack or stroke is now eligible for treatment with statins, the Guardian reports.