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• The gross total payments to Scottish dispensing contractors decreased from £1,178 million in 2011 to £1,126 million in 2012.
• The net ingredient cost (NIC) paid to dispensing contractors for drug reimbursement has decreased, from £972 million in 2011 to £919 million in 2012. However, the cost for remuneration of services shows an increase of £1.8 million (0.9%) from £205.7 million in 2011 to £207.5 million in 2012.
• The gross ingredient cost (GIC) paid to dispensing contractors in 2012 in respect of dispensing was £965.7 million. This is a decrease of £46.8 million (4.6%) when compared to 2011.
• The number of prescription items for 2012 was 96.6 million. This is an increase of 2.8 million (3.0%) compared to 2011. The number of prescription items for 2011 was 93.8 million. This was an increase of 2.8 million (3.1%) compared to 2010.

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• In 2011, the use of systemic antibacterials in primary care (items/1000 population/day) was 3.4% higher than in 2010, corresponding to an increase of 162 000 prescription items. However there was a continued reduction in the use of broad spectrum antibacterials associated with Clostridium difficile infection (CDI); cephalosporins 23.8%; combination penicillins (mainly co-amoxiclav) 17.7% and fluoroquinolones 10.8%.


• Overall, 32% of the Scottish population had at least one antibacterial item dispensed in
  2011; 8.2% had =3 items and 2.2% had =6 items dispensed. The use of antibacterials increased in all age groups from 2010 to 2011 with the greatest increase in the age groups 0-4 years (4.1%), 5-14 years (5.7%) and =80 years (5.2%).


• Antibacterial use in secondary care (hospitals) is now reported for 10 NHS boards covering 81% of the population. In 2011, the total use of systemic antibacterials in secondary care was 1.7% higher (DDD/1000/day) than in 2010. The use of broad- spectrum antibacterials associated with CDI was 0.4% higher in 2011 in hospitals; which included reductions in cephalosporins (11.2%) and fluoroquinolones (6.0%) and increases in co-amoxiclav (6.7%) and clindamycin (1.7%).


• In 2011, the number of cases of E. coli bacteraemia was 3839 which is 10% higher than in 2009. The increase does not seem to have been driven by resistant strains as resistance to key antimicrobials is decreasing; including a decreasing trend in cephalosporin resistance reaching frequencies of 8-9% in 2011, the lowest since 2008.


• The decreasing trends (and stable in some instances) in resistance to key antimicrobials among the Scottish Gram-negative organisms, including E. coli, K. pneumoniae and P. aeruginosa described in this report, should be seen in the light of Europe-wide increases in antimicrobial resistance in Gram-negatives.


• In 2011, extended spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) producers among E. coli (6.5%)
  and K. pneumoniae (7.0%) were at the lowest frequencies since 2008.


• Among Gram-positive organisms antimicrobial resistance trends are generally stable or decreasing. An exception is the increasing frequency of vancomycin resistance among isolates of E. faecium which reached 27.6% in 2011, above what is reported for the UK (8.9%), and only exceeded in Europe by Ireland (34.9%).


• Since 2008 there has been an 18% increase in the use of carbapenems in Scotland despite initiatives to restrict the use of this group of agents. Carbapenem resistance among Gram-negative organisms is still rare, but has now been reported from nearly all parts of Scotland. This highlights the need for measures to preserve the effectiveness of carbapenems for the future.

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View Scottish Antimicrobial Prescribing Group (SAPG) Report on Antimicrobial Use and Resistance in humans in 2011 on the topic publications page

• The data shows an increase in generic prescribing from the years ending 31st March 2003 to 31st March 2012 (from 77.1% of prescribing to 82.7%).
• The percentage of generic prescribing has remained fairly constant at around 82% since 2007/08.
• NHS Shetland has the highest percentage of generic prescribing at 85.8%. NHS Lanarkshire is the lowest in the year 2011/12 at 80.5%. All NHS Boards other than NHS Lanarkshire have had a small increase in generic prescribing since 2010/11.

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View Prescribing & Medicines: Generic Prescribing on the topic publications page

• The gross total payments to Scottish dispensing contractors decreased from £591 million in the first 6 months of 2011/12 to £558 million in the first 6 months of 2012/13.
• The net ingredient cost (NIC) paid to dispensing contractors for drug reimbursement has decreased, from £490 million in the first 6 months of 2011/12 to £455 million in the first 6 months of 2012/13. However, the cost for remuneration of services shows an increase of £3.5 million (3.5%) from £100.3 million in the first 6 months of 2011/12 to the first 6 months of £103.8 million in 2012/13.
• The gross ingredient cost (GIC) paid to dispensing contractors in the first 6 months of 2012/13 in respect of dispensing was £478 million. This is a decrease of £31.2 million (6.1%) when compared to the first 6 months of 2011/12.
• The number of prescription items for the first 6 months of 2012/13 was 48.2 million. This is an increase of 1.1 million (2.3%) compared to the first 6 months of 2011/12. The number of prescription items for the first 6 months of 2011/12 was 47.1 million. This was an increase of 1.5 million (3.2%) compared to the first 6 months of 2010/11.

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• There were 76,000 (15%) fewer prescriptions for broad spectrum antibacterials associated with a higher risk of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) in primary care in Scotland than in 2010-11. This is the third successive year in which a reduction has been observed. Reductions have been observed in all but one NHS boards.
• An increase of 152,000 (5%) prescriptions for antibacterials recommended for first line empirical treatment of infections commonly encountered in primary care than in 2010-11. This builds upon the increase observed in each of the previous three years. The increase was observed across all NHS boards and suggests increased compliance with local prescribing policies.
• There were 10 NHS boards below the target for seasonal variation in fluoroquinolone use as part of the prescribing indicators in support of HEAT target for CDI.
• An increase of 2% (p<0.05) in the total number of prescriptions for antibacterials than in 2010-11. This is equivalent to an increase of 98,000 prescriptions in 2011-12.

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View Scottish Antimicrobial Prescribing Group (SAPG) Primary Care Prescribing Indicators Annual Report 2011/12 on the topic publications page

• The patient based analysis is a new feature of this publication. ISD will be developing this further in the future. The average CHI capture rate for each topic contained within this report is:
  Hypnotics and Anxiolytics – 92.2% Psychoses and Related Disorders – 93.1% Antidepressants – 94.9% ADHD – 90.1% Dementia – 86.1%
• A total of 363,823 patients were dispensed an hypnotic, anxiolytic or barbiturate in 2011/12 at a cost of £7.1m, a decrease of 10.2% on the cost in 2010/11.
• A total of 817,937 items were dispensed to 78,471 patients for drugs used in psychoses and related disorders during 2011/12, an increase of 32,196 (4.10%) items over the previous financial year.
• A total of 718,330 patients were dispensed an antidepressant in 2011/12 at a cost of £31.4m, an increase of 2.6% on the cost in 2010/11.
• In 2011/12, 7,511 patients were dispensed a drug for ADHD, of which 82% were male and 18% were female.
• For dementia, 17,564 patients were dispensed an item in 2011/12, representing a 10.4% increase on the number of patients dispensed an item in 2010/12.

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View Prescribing Statistics - Medicines used in Mental Health on the topic publications page

• The gross total payments to Scottish dispensing contractors decreased from £295 million in quarter 1 of 2011/12 to £281 million in quarter 1 of 2012/13.
• The net ingredient cost (NIC) paid to dispensing contractors for drug reimbursement has decreased, from £244 million in quarter 1 of 2011/12 to £230 million in quarter 1 of 2012/13. However, the cost for remuneration of services shows an increase of £1.3 million (2.6%) from £50.5 million in 2011/12 to £51.8 million in 2012/13.
• The gross ingredient cost (GIC) paid to dispensing contractors in quarter 1 of 2012/13 in respect of dispensing was £241 million. This is a decrease of £12.4 million (4.9%) when compared to quarter 1 2011/12.
• The number of prescription items for quarter 1 of 2012/13 was 24.0 million. This is an increase of 0.5 million (2.3%) compared to quarter 1 of 2011/12. The number of prescription items for quarter 1 of 2011/12 was 23.5 million. This was an increase of 0.7 million (3.2%) compared to quarter 1 of 2010/11.

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• Prescribing of smoking cessation products show seasonal variation.
• The sharp peaks which start rising from January into February, culminate in March.
• Prescribing of smoking cessation products increased sharply just before the ban on smoking in public places was introduced in Scotland in March 2006.
• Of the prescribable treatments for smoking cessation, NRT is the most prevalent.


• Between 2006/07 and 2011/12 the number of dispensed items has increased from 254,095 to 583,716 or 129.7%. Between 2010/11 and 2011/12 they increased from 443,829 or 31.5%. Between 2006/07 and 2011/12 the gross ingredient cost increased from £6,624,165 to £14,953,380 or 125.7%. Between 2011/12 and 2010/11 it increased from £12,505,057 or 19.6%.

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View Prescribing Statistics - Prescribing of smoking cessation interventions on the topic publications page

• In 2011/12 simvastatin (used for controlling cholesterol) was the most commonly prescribed drug by volume, replacing aspirin for the first time.
• Salmeterol with fluticasone proprionate (used for respiratory conditions) was the most expensive by gross ingredient cost in 2011/12, replacing atorvastatin for the first time.
• The total volume of items dispensed in Scotland in 2011/12 is 94.6 million, a rise of 3.8% between 2010/11 and 2011/12.
• The total (net) cost rose by 3.2% in 2011/12 compared to 2010/11 to £1.18 billion.
• NHS Lothian has the lowest items (13.1) and net cost (£179.69) per person on a GP list size, with NHS Western Isles the highest in terms of items (23.7) and NHS Ayrshire and Arran in terms of net cost (£231.75) in 2011/12.

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• The gross total payments to Scottish dispensing contractors increased from £1,160 million in 2010/11 to £1,177 million in 2011/12.
• The net ingredient cost (NIC) paid to dispensing contractors for drug reimbursement continues to increase, from £951 million in 2010/11 to £974 million in 2011/12. However, the cost for remuneration of services shows a decrease of about £6.5 million (3.1%) from £209.4 million in 2010/11 to £202.9 million in 2011/12.
• The gross ingredient cost (GIC) paid to dispensing contractors for 2011/12 in respect of dispensing was £1,015 million. This is an increase of just under £12 million (1.2%) when compared to 2010/11.
• The number of prescription items for 2011/12 was 94.9 million. This is an increase of 3.5 million (3.8%) compared to 2010/11. The number of prescription items for 2010/11 was 91.4 million. This was an increase of 2.1 million (2.4%) compared to 2009.
• The prescription charge of a single prescription was reduced from £3.00 to £0.00 in April 2011.

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• There is an increasing trend in registrations between April 2011 and March 2012, indicating that in the majority of months the number of new registrations is greater than the number of lapsed registrations.
• In Scotland, 99.8% of community pharmacies have patients registered for MAS at 31st March 2012.
• At 31st March 2012, 844,843 people were registered for the service. On average 15.2% of those registered with a GP in Scotland are also registered for MAS.
• Between April 2011 and March 2012 almost 1.9 million items were dispensed under MAS at a cost of £3.93 million.
• MAS accounted for 2.0% of all items dispensed.

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View Prescribing and Medicines: Minor Ailment Service (MAS) on the topic publications page

• The gross total payments to Scottish dispensing contractors increased from £1,158 million in 2010 to £1,178 million in 2011.
• The net ingredient cost (NIC) paid to dispensing contractors for drug reimbursement continues to increase, from £951 million in 2010 to £972 million in 2011.  However, the cost for remuneration of services shows a decrease of about £1.7 million (0.8%) from £207.4 million in 2010 to £205.7 million in 2011.
• The gross ingredient cost (GIC) paid to dispensing contractors for 2011 in respect of dispensing was £1,013 million.  This is an increase of just under £8 million (0.8%) when compared to 2010.
• The number of prescription items for 2011 was 93.8 million. This is an increase of 2.8 million (3.1%) compared to 2010. The number of prescription items for 2010 was 91 million.  This is an increase of 2.6 million (3.0 %) compared to 2009.
• The cost of a single prescription was reduced from £3.00 to £0.00 in April 2011.

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• In 2010 the overall use of systemic antibacterials in primary care was 1.9% lower than in 2009 when expressed as number of items per 1000 population per day, equivalent to 53,000 fewer prescriptions. Reductions in the use of broad spectrum antibacterials known to increase the risk of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) (expressed as items/1000/day) were observed from 2008 to 2010. Reductions within specific groups are as follows: cephalosporins 46.7%; combination penicillins (mainly co-amoxiclav) 36.7%; fluoroquinolones 26.3%. These changes are equivalent to 311,000 fewer prescriptions for high risk antibacterials since 2008.
• Information from the Hospital Medicines Utilisation Database (HMUD) from hospitals in 10 NHS boards (covering 58% of the Scottish population) shows the use (expressed as DDD/1000/day) of antibacterials associated with high risk of CDI in 2010 was 30.7% lower than in 2008. Reductions were observed in all four groups of high risk antibacterials: cephalosporins 54%; co-amoxiclav 27%; fluoroquinolones 26%; clindamycin 13%.
• Antimicrobial resistance among Gram-negative bacteraemias showed, with one exception, stable or decreasing trends in the period 2008-2010. This compares favourably to the situation in Europe. In particular the stable or decreasing trend in cephalosporin resistance in E. coli and K. pneumoniae is remarkable. In more than half of European countries increases in cephalosporin resistance were reported in the same period.
• An exception to the positive development is the increasing gentamicin resistance in E. coli (from 7.3% to 9.2% from 2008 to 2010). Gentamicin is increasingly used in hospitals as cephalosporin use has been restricted in order to contain CDI.
• Emergence of carbapenem resistance is also a matter of concern. One percent of the Scottish K. pneumoniae bacteraemia isolates were resistant to carbapenems in 2010. Increasing numbers of carbapenemase producers have been reported since 2008.
• These findings suggest that SAPG in collaboration with AMTs is having a continued positive impact on the quantity and quality of prescribing in primary and secondary care and helping to contain the emergence of resistance. CDI rates have decreased 65% in the period 2008-2010 which coincides with reduction in use of high risk antimicrobials in both primary and secondary care. There is still room for improvement though; more detailed examination of antimicrobial use in primary care showed that older people who are most at risk for CDI are more likely to be prescribed a high risk antimicrobial and the threat of emerging resistance remains as shown by the rise in gentamicin resistance.

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View Scottish Antimicrobial Prescribing Group (SAPG) Report on Antimicrobial Use and Resistance in Humans in 2010 on the topic publications page

• The gross total payments to Scottish dispensing contractors continue to increase year on year.
• The net ingredient cost (NIC) paid to dispensing contractors for drug reimbursement continues to increase, from £478 million in the first 6 months of 2010/11 to £490 million in the first 6 months of 2011/12. However, the cost for remuneration of services shows a decrease by about £2.2 million (2.2%) from £102.5 million in the first 6 months of 2010/11 to £100.3 million in the first 6 months of 2011/12.
• The gross ingredient cost (GIC) paid to dispensing contractors for the first 6 months of 2011/12, in respect of dispensing was £509 million. This is an increase of just under £2 million (0.4%) when compared to the first 6 months of 2010/11.
• The number of prescription items for the first 6 months of 2011/12 was 47.1 million. This is an increase of just under 1.5 million (3.2%) compared to the first 6 months of 2010/11.
• The cost of a single prescription was reduced from £3.00 to £0.00 in April 2011.

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• There were 163,000 (24%) fewer prescriptions for antibacterials associated with a higher risk of CDI dispensed in 2010-11 than in 2009-10.
• Seasonal variation in fluoroquinolone use is one of the three prescribing indicators agreed by SAPG and the Scottish Government Health Directorate (SGHD) in support of the HEAT target for CDI reduction. Based on data for year ending March 2011, twelve NHS Boards were below the target and the remaining 2 NHS Boards only slightly above it.
• There was an increase of 184,000 (6%) prescriptions for recommended antibacterials dispensed in 2010-11 than in 2009-10.
• In 2010-11, there was a small increase of 28,000 (0.5%) prescriptions for systemic antibacterials dispensed in Scotland compared to 2009-10. This increase was not statistically significant.

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View Antibacterial Primary Care Prescribing Indicators Annual Report 2010-11 on the topic publications page

• Prescribing of smoking cessation products show seasonal variation.
• The sharp peaks which start rising from January into February, culminating in March may be due to New Year Resolutions, while the steady decline after March may be due to successfully quitting or else relapsing.
• Prescribing of smoking cessation products increased sharply just before the ban on smoking in public places was introduced in Scotland in March 2006.
• Of the prescribable treatments for smoking cessation, Nicotine Replacement Therapy is the most prevalent.

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View Prescribing Statistics - Prescribing of smoking cessation interventions on the topic publications page

• The prescribing of Hypnotics, Anxiolytics and Barbiturates increased between 2009/10 and 2010/11, from 2.13 million items 2.14 million items, a rise of 0.37%.
• A total of 785,741 items for drugs used in psychoses and related disorders were dispensed during 2010/11, an increase of 29,786 (3.93%) items over the previous financial year.
• A total of 4.66 million antidepressant items were dispensed during 2010/11, an increase of 350,372 from the previous financial year. It is estimated 11.3% of the Scottish population aged between 15 and over make daily use of antidepressant drugs.
• Prescribing of drugs indicated for ADHD grew by 3.8 % between 2009/10 and 2010/11, up from 75,768 to 78,679 dispensed items.
• Prescribing of dementia drugs in Scotland has continued to increase year upon year, from 121,833 dispensed items in 2009/10 to 135,822 dispensed items in 2010/11.

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View Prescribing Statistics - Medicines used in Mental Health on the topic publications page

• The gross total payments to Scottish dispensing contractors continue to increase year on year.
• The net ingredient cost (NIC) paid to dispensing contractors for drug reimbursement continues to increase, however the cost for remuneration of services shows a decrease in quarter 1 of 2011/12 (around £50.5 million) from quarter 1 of 2010/11 (around £51.5 million). This is due to changes in the remuneration arrangements negotiated between Community Pharmacy Scotland and the Scottish Government.
• The gross ingredient amount of payments to dispensing contractors for the first quarter of 2011-12, in respect of various fees and allowances for dispensing prescriptions and providing pharmaceutical services was £254 million. This is an increase of just under £3 million (1.1%) when compared to the first quarter of 2010-11.
• The cost of a single prescription was reduced from £3.00 to £0.00 in April 2011.

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• A total of 95,108 items were prescribed in Scotland during 2010/11, a decrease of 29.3% on the previous year.
• Expenditure on obesity drugs decreased from £4.64 million to £3.39 million between 2009/10 and 2010/11.
• Prescribing of Orlistat fell by 11.1%, down from 106,927 items in 2009/10 to 95,084 in 2010/11.

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View Prescribing Statistics - Drugs indicated in the treatment of obesity on the topic publications page

• The generic prescribing rate has decreased for the first time in over ten years, decreasing from 82.2% in 2009/10 to 81.8% in 2010/11.
• In 2010/11 aspirin (primarily prescribed to help prevent cardiovascular disease) was the most commonly prescribed drug by volume and atorvastatin (used for controlling cholesterol) was the most expensive by gross ingredient cost; these are consistent with 2009/10.
• The total volume of items dispensed in Scotland in 2010/11 is 91.1 million, a rise of 2.4% between 2009/10 and 2010/11.
• The total (net) cost rose by 2.5% in 2010/11 compared to 2009/10 to almost £1.14 billion.
• NHS Lothian has the lowest items (12.4) and net cost (£170.82) per person on a GP list size, with NHS Western Isles the highest in terms of both items (23.0) and net cost (£238.45) in 2010/11.

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View Prescribing and Medicines: Prescription Cost Analysis Financial Year - 2010/11 on the topic publications page

• Due to falling charges, the total income generated by sales of all prescriptions has steadily decreased. As of 1 April 2011, prescription items are now dispensed free of charge in Scotland.
• The volume of prescription items dispensed where the patient held a pre-payment decreased slightly over the past year. The number of prescriptions dispensed where a charge was paid at the point of delivery has increased in the last year, as did the volume of prescription items dispensed where the patient was exempt from paying any charge.

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View Prescribing and Medicines: Annual and quarterly update of prescription charges Financial year 2005/06 to 2010/11, and financial Q1 to Q4 2010/1 on the topic publications page

• The gross total payments to Scottish dispensing contractors continue to increase year on year.
• The net ingredient cost (NIC) paid to dispensing contractors for drug reimbursement continues to increase, as does the cost for remuneration of services.
• The gross ingredient amount of payments to dispensing contractors for the financial year 2010-11, in respect of various fees and allowances for dispensing prescriptions and providing pharmaceutical services was £1.16 billion. This is an increase of £12million (1.2%) when compared to the financial year 2009-10.
• The cost of a singe prescription reduced from £4.00 to £3.00 in April 2010.

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View Prescribing and Medicines: Reimbursement and remuneration paid to dispensing contractors Calendar and financial years 2006-2011 on the topic publications page

• There is an increasing trend in registrations between April 2010 and March 2011, indicating that in the majority of months the number of new registrations is greater than the number of lapsed registrations.
• In Scotland, 99.8% of community pharmacies have patients registered for MAS at 31st March 2011.
• At 31st March 2011, 790,509 people were registered for the service. On average 14.3% of those registered with a GP in Scotland are also registered for MAS.
• Between April 2010 and March 2011 almost 1.7 million items were dispensed under MAS at a cost of £3.49 million.
• MAS accounted for 1.8% of all items dispensed in the community in Scotland, with paracetamol being the top item dispensed.

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View Prescribing and Medicines: Minor Ailments Service (MAS) April 2010 - March 2011 on the topic publications page

• Prescribing of smoking cessation products show seasonal variation.
• The sharp peaks around the months of January, February and March may be due to New Year Resolutions, while the steady decline after March may be due to successfully quitting or else relapsing.
• Prescribing of smoking cessation products rose sharply just before the introduction of the ban in smoking in public places was introduced in Scotland in March 2006.
• Of the prescribable treatments for smoking cessation, NRT is the most prevalent.

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View Prescribing of Smoking Cessation Interventions in Scotland - Calendar Years 2001 - 2010 on the topic publications page

• The gross total payments to Scottish dispensing contractors continue to increase year on year.
• The net ingredient cost (NIC) paid to dispensing contractors for drug reimbursement continues to increase, as does the cost for remuneration of services.
• The gross ingredient amount of payments to dispensing contractors for the calendar year 2010, in respect of various fees and allowances for dispensing prescriptions and providing pharmaceutical services was £1.16 billion. This is an increase of £27million (2.4%) when compared to the calendar year 2009.
• The cost of a singe prescription reduced from £4.00 to £3.00 in April 2010.

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View Reimbursement and remuneration paid to dispensing contractors - Calendar and financial years 2006-2010 on the topic publications page

• Since April 2008, total income generated by sales of prescriptions continues to steadily decrease.
• The volume of prescription items dispensed where the patient holds a pre-payment is increasing, as is the volume of prescription items dispensed where the patient is exempt from paying any charge.

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View Quarterly update of prescription charges - Financial Q1 (April to June) 2009/10 to financial Q3 (October to December) 2010/11 on the topic publications page

• There is an increasing trend in registrations since calendar year 2008, indicating that in the majority of months the number of new registrations is greater than the number of lapsed registrations.
• In Scotland, 99.8% of community pharmacies have patients registered for MAS at 30th September 2010.
• At 30th September 2010, 770,526 people were registered for the service. On average 14.0% of those registered with a GP in Scotland are also registered for MAS.

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View Minor Ailments Service (MAS) Registrations - September 2008 - September 2010 on the topic publications page

• A total of 134,491 items were prescribed in Scotland during 2009/10, an increase of 18.6% on the previous year.
• Rimonabant has not been dispensed in the community during 2009/10 following its withdrawal from the market in January 2009.
• Expenditure on obesity drugs increased from £4.04 million to £4.64 million between 2008/09 and 2009/10.

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View Drugs indicated for the treatment of obesity - Financial Years 2000/01 - 2009/10 on the topic publications page

This is the second annual report from the Scottish Antimicrobial Prescribing Group (SAPG), published by Health Protection Scotland (HPS)/Information Services Division (ISD) of NHS National Services Scotland that combines information on antimicrobial use and resistance in humans in Scotland.

• In 2009, 44,500 fewer prescriptions for antibacterials in primary care were dispensed in Scotland in 2009 than in 2008.
• The use of antibacterials in primary care (expressed as items/1000/day) associated with a higher risk of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) decreased by 19.5% between 2008 and 2009.  The use of first-line antibacterials promoted by SAPG increased by 4.9% between 2008 and 2009.
• Despite promising trends in some areas, antimicrobial resistance remains a serious cause for concern, in particular the emergence of carbapenemase producing Enterobacteriaceae in the UK and other countries. Continued vigilance and efforts to improve the quality of antimicrobial prescribing are therefore crucial.

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View Scottish Antimicrobial Prescribing Group (SAPG) Report on Antimicrobial Use and Resistance in Humans in 2009 on the topic publications page

• The volume of medicines indicated for depression rose between 2008/09 and 2009/10 from 4.01 to 4.31 million items; an increase of 7.6%

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View Prescribing Statistics - Medicines used in Mental Health on the topic publications page

Remuneration:

• The tables display payments made to Scottish dispensers of pharmaceuticals in the community, up to September 2010. They are intended as reference tables but may also be used to compare trends of payments from month to month.
• Tables show the remuneration and reimbursement amounts for the financial year 2010/11 and calendar year 2010 (up to September 2010).
• Each worksheet contains the overall Scotland total payments to dispensing contractors, split between three defined groupings: community pharmacies, appliance suppliers and dispensing doctors.

Prescription charges:

• This is a quarterly update of the data shown at: http://www.isdscotland.org/isd/2237.html Data exclude prescriptions written on Stock Order (SO) and Minor Ailment Service (MAS) forms.
• Statistics are presented by financial quarter from Q1 2009/10 to Q2 2010/11 to monitor the effect of the decreasing cost of single prescriptions and pre-payment certificates (PPCs) in Scotland. Data are shown by the volume and GIC of prescriptions dispensed by exemption category (holds a valid PPC, pays for single prescription items at the point of issue, or is exempt from paying any charge).
• Income generated by pre-payment certificate and prescription sales is shown by financial year from 2004/05 to 2009/10, and by financial quarter from Q1 2009/10 to Q2 2010/11.

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View Quarterly update of reimbursement and remuneration paid to dispensing contractors, and quarterly update of prescription charges on the topic publications page

• In 2009/10, over 47,000 fewer prescriptions for antibacterials were dispensed in Scotland compared to 2008?09.
• Seasonal variation in quinolone use is one of the three prescribing indicators agreed by SAPG and the Scottish Government Health Directorate in support of the HEAT target for CDI reduction. Based on data for year ending March 2010, progress has been made with nine NHS Boards below the target and most others making good progress towards the target which will be assessed in March 2011.
• A reduction of 15% in the use of antibacterials associated with a higher risk of CDI expressed as defined daily doses per 1000 population per day (DDD/1000/day) in 2009?10 compared with 2008?09. When expressed as items per 1000 population per day (items/1000/day) the reduction is 20%.
• The use of antibacterials recommended by SAPG for treatment of commonly encountered infections in primary care, expressed as DDD/1000/day, increased by 2.8% in 2009?10 compared with 2008?09. When expressed as items/1000/day the increase is 5%.

Publication Summary	Archive Link
Full Report	Archive Link
View Antibacterial Primary Care Prescribing Indicators Annual Report 2009-10 on the topic publications page

Remuneration

• The gross total payments to Scottish dispensing contractors continues to increase year on year.
• The net ingredient cost (NIC) paid to dispensing contractors for drug reimbursement continues to increase, as does the cost for remuneration of services.

Prescription charges

• Since April 2008, total income generated by sales of prescriptions continues to steadily decrease.
• The volume of prescription items dispensed where the patient holds a pre-payment is increasing, whilst the volume of prescription items dispensed where the patient pays a charge at the point of issue is decreasing overall.

Smoking cessation interventions

• All NHS Boards, with the exception of NHS Shetland, have a percentage rise in the number of items for smoking cessation interventions. This could be attributable to the rise in Nicotine Replacement Therapy, through the Public Health Service.
• All but three NHS Boards – NHS Shetland, NHS Fife and NHS Orkney, saw an increase in the Gross Ingredient Cost.

Publication Summary	Archive Link
Full Report	Archive Link
View Prescribing Statistics on the topic publications page