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Independent analysis of NHS open data
PharmaInsight

Chlorhexidine gluconate vs Benzalkonium chloride

National NHS prescribing compared (Prescription Cost Analysis)
Data updated April 2026

Chlorhexidine gluconate was dispensed 17,606.0× as often as Benzalkonium chloride in April 2026 — 17,606 items versus 1 in England.

17,606items

Chlorhexidine gluconate · April 2026

NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis

1items

Benzalkonium chloride · April 2026

NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis

Figure 1. Chlorhexidine gluconate versus Benzalkonium chloride: national items dispensed by month

▬ Chlorhexidine gluconate   ·   ╌ Benzalkonium chloride

0 10k 19k Jan 2021 Oct 2021 Jul 2022 Apr 2023 Jan 2024 Oct 2024 Apr 2026 Benzalkonium chl… 17,606 Jan 2021: 16k Feb 2021: 15k Mar 2021: 17k Apr 2021: 16k May 2021: 15k Jun 2021: 17k Jul 2021: 17k Aug 2021: 16k Sep 2021: 18k Oct 2021: 16k Nov 2021: 17k Dec 2021: 16k Jan 2022: 16k Feb 2022: 15k Mar 2022: 18k Apr 2022: 16k May 2022: 17k Jun 2022: 17k Jul 2022: 15k Aug 2022: 13k Sep 2022: 11k Oct 2022: 11k Nov 2022: 10k Dec 2022: 9k Jan 2023: 13k Feb 2023: 10k Mar 2023: 13k Apr 2023: 12k May 2023: 15k Jun 2023: 15k Jul 2023: 15k Aug 2023: 14k Sep 2023: 14k Oct 2023: 14k Nov 2023: 16k Dec 2023: 15k Jan 2024: 16k Feb 2024: 16k Mar 2024: 16k Apr 2024: 16k May 2024: 17k Jun 2024: 17k Jul 2024: 19k Aug 2024: 18k Sep 2024: 17k Oct 2024: 17k Nov 2024: 16k Dec 2024: 16k Jan 2025: 17k Feb 2025: 15k Apr 2025: 17k May 2025: 18k Jun 2025: 17k Jul 2025: 19k Aug 2025: 17k Sep 2025: 19k Oct 2025: 19k Nov 2025: 17k Dec 2025: 18k Jan 2026: 18k Feb 2026: 17k Mar 2026: 19k Apr 2026: 18k

Source: NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis, to April 2026

Chlorhexidine gluconate versus Benzalkonium chloride, April 2026
Measure Chlorhexidine gluconate Benzalkonium chloride
Items, April 2026 17,606 1
Items, last 12 months 215,966 15
Net ingredient cost, April 2026 £163,156 £9

See the full profile for Chlorhexidine gluconate or Benzalkonium chloride.