Taking the GP Prescribing data published so far to date, we've examined how prescribers could identify cost savings in their choice of treatment.
Based on the influential work of OpenPrescribing.net and with reference to the Northern Ireland Formulary prescribing guidance, we analyse a couple of drug-based treatments where there is potential for greater cost-saving: desogestrel and statins.
Generally, cost-saving takes the form of generic switching, but the analysis also identifies other more expensive drugs that have cheaper alternatives.
The same method can be applied to many other drug choices, and can be applied to other measures, such as safer and better quality prescribing, which will form part of forthcoming work.
