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# NHS spending: savings can be made on branded drugs
- URL: https://www.birminghameastside.co.uk/nhs-branded-drugs/
- Published: 2018-01-23T15:34:10.000Z
- Updated: 2018-01-23T15:34:10.000Z
- Author: Sania Aziz
- Tags: Data, Health, News, #Migrated-1786701253228, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-08-14 09:54

![](http://birminghameastside.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/1-1248777715OG1P.jpg)

Photo by Petr Kratochvil / Filed under CC0 Public Domain

Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) in Birmingham **are spending a lot more on branded drugs** where they could possibly prescribe cheaper alternatives.

This is according to [**OpenPrescribing's**](https://openprescribing.net/ccg/05L/?ref=birminghameastside.co.uk) data on [Sandwell and West Biringham CCG](https://openprescribing.net/ccg/05L/?ref=birminghameastside.co.uk), [Birmingham South Central CCG](https://openprescribing.net/ccg/04X/?ref=birminghameastside.co.uk), and [Birmingham CrossCity CCG](https://openprescribing.net/ccg/13P/?ref=birminghameastside.co.uk).

The data suggests that the CCGs could have made possible savings of **£430,000** on high-cost drugs in the last 6 months. If these CCGs had followed the best prescribing policies, they could have saved **£600,000** on such prescriptions.

OpenPrescribing also suggests that generic drugs are not only significantly cheaper but also **equally effective** as compared to the expensive branded ones.

### How else can the NHS make savings on drugs?

A local nurse who works with the NHS who wishes to be anonymous explains the need for doctors to discontinue medicines a patient does not need anymore, apart from ensuring that they do not repeat prescriptions.

She suggests that the NHS must have checks in place to see whether patients are in fact using the medications or not. She says, "I have worked with many overseas nurses and found that they are always shocked to see so much drug waste in the U.K."

We have contacted Birmingham's CCGs and asked for a response, but there has been no reply yet.