Prescribing costs

Request data on the cost of prescribing by drug category or therapeutic area.

NHS boards spend significant sums on prescribing medicines. The figures show where the money goes and whether costs are rising or falling in particular areas.

Dear [AUTHORITY NAME], Please provide the following information for [FINANCIAL YEAR e.g. 2024-25]: 1. The total cost of prescribing across the board area. 2. A breakdown of prescribing costs by the ten highest-cost therapeutic categories. 3. The number of prescription items dispensed in each of those categories. I would prefer to receive this as a spreadsheet or CSV if possible. Yours faithfully, [YOUR NAME]
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Who to send it to#

Your local NHS board. Find the right board on the Commissioner’s directory of Scottish public authorities. You can also send your request through WhatDoTheyKnow, which publishes responses online.

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Tips#

  • Public Health Scotland publishes prescribing data through its open data platform. Check what is already available before submitting your request.
  • Asking for the top ten by cost keeps the request manageable and focuses on the most significant areas of spending.
  • If you are interested in a specific drug or condition (e.g. diabetes, mental health), make a focused request for that category alone.