Proposals for a single national formulary (SNF) for medicines in the NHS 10-Year Plan need a cost-benefit analysis.
That’s the view of Dr Steve Taylor, GP spokesperson for the Doctors’ Association UK (DAUK).
The Government outlined plans to move to an SNF within the next two years in its NHS 10-Year Plan.
It says the move aims to ‘drive rapid and equitable adoption of the most clinically and cost-effective innovations’.
Single national formulary
Dr Taylor, speaking to Pulse, said: “Having an SNF seems like a good idea until you factor in shortages, compliance, and choice of prescriber and patient.
“If it is automated, with the option for pharmacists to switch when availability is a problem, then it might work. It is important that this is in place first.
“The UK already has some of the cheapest costs in terms of medication and it would be important to see the cost benefit analysis, including time wasted for clinicians, patients and pharmacists.”
NHS 10-Year Plan
Dr Taylor also contributed to special investigation by Pulse into the 10-Year Plan.
He warned that a huge concern with the plan was the ‘ongoing destruction of the partnership model’.
Dr Taylor added that it will ‘probably occur as a result not funding GP partnerships’.
In launching the plan, the Government said that neighbourhood health services will be rolled out across the country bringing together diagnostics, mental health, post-op, rehab, and nursing to people’s doorsteps.
GP practices
But Dr Taylor reiterated that such centres already existed in the community as GP practices.
He said: “This seems to ignore the fact that 6,000 GP practices are already providing neighbourhood care and could in theory with the right funding, upscale.”
Read the Pulse special investigation.
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