Figures revealing NHS England’s spending on medicines highlight the ‘vital’ role of pharmacists in medicines optimisation, the chair of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) in England has said.

Figures released by the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) today reveal that in 2022/23, NHSE spent £9.59bn on medicines prescribed in primary care and dispensed in the community.

This made up 50% of its total medicines expenditure, with an additional £93.6m spent on medicines prescribed by hospitals and dispensed in the community, £32.4 spent on medicines prescribed by dentists and dispensed in the community, and £24.9m spent on medicines prescribed and dispensed in adult prisons and detention centres.

The total actual cost of items prescribed in primary care has been gradually increasing since 2018/19, when £8.05bn was spent on medicines prescribed in primary care and dispensed in the community.

Since 2021/22, the actual cost of items prescribed in primary care and dispensed in the community has increased by 8%, from £8.9bn.

Tase Oputu, chair of the RPS in England, said that the figures ‘highlight more than ever the vital role of pharmacists in medicines optimisation, reducing overprescribing and cutting medicines waste’.

But she added that ‘pharmacy teams must also be enabled to continue supporting the best use of medicines for patients and not feel pressured into focusing solely on cutting costs’.

‘Medicines are a fundamental part of our health service, saving and enhancing the lives of millions of people every year,’ Ms Oputu said.

And she stressed that local pharmacy leaders needed ‘the time and support to develop pharmacy services, working with colleagues across the system’.

‘The latest CQC State of Care report showed that this needs additional resource and shouldn’t be an afterthought,’ she added.

The CQC report, released last month, also highlighted particular concerns around staffing and medicines governance in virtual wards when pharmacy teams were not involved from the outset.

‘Investing in pharmacy services can deliver both better outcomes for patients and better value for taxpayers,’ Ms Oputu added.

Meanwhile, Gareth Jones, NPA director of corporate affairs, said: 'This report is a reminder of the significant investment the NHS makes in medicines.

'It clearly makes sense to optimise the outcomes from what is the biggest non-staff cost.

'A relatively small additional investment into community pharmacy medicine optimisation services could improve clinical outcomes and maximise the return the NHS receives when investing in medicines.'