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Independent analysis of NHS open data
PharmaInsight

Diclofenac sodium vs Fluorouracil (Sunscreen)

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

Diclofenac sodium was dispensed 1.2× as often as Fluorouracil (Sunscreen) in May 2026 — 12,031 items versus 10,020 in England.

12,031items

Diclofenac sodium · May 2026

NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis

10,020items

Fluorouracil (Sunscreen) · May 2026

NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis

Figure 1. Diclofenac sodium versus Fluorouracil (Sunscreen): national items dispensed by month

▬ Diclofenac sodium   ·   ╌ Fluorouracil (Sunscreen)

0 13k 27k Jan 2021 Nov 2021 Sep 2022 Jul 2023 May 2024 Mar 2025 May 2026 Fluorouracil (Su… 12,031 Jan 2021: 6k Feb 2021: 7k Mar 2021: 9k Apr 2021: 9k May 2021: 9k Jun 2021: 10k Jul 2021: 10k Aug 2021: 10k Sep 2021: 10k Oct 2021: 10k Nov 2021: 10k Dec 2021: 8k Jan 2022: 8k Feb 2022: 9k Mar 2022: 10k Apr 2022: 9k May 2022: 11k Jun 2022: 11k Jul 2022: 11k Aug 2022: 11k Sep 2022: 11k Oct 2022: 11k Nov 2022: 10k Dec 2022: 8k Jan 2023: 9k Feb 2023: 9k Mar 2023: 10k Apr 2023: 9k May 2023: 11k Jun 2023: 13k Jul 2023: 12k Aug 2023: 14k Sep 2023: 13k Oct 2023: 12k Nov 2023: 12k Dec 2023: 9k Jan 2024: 10k Feb 2024: 10k Mar 2024: 10k Apr 2024: 11k May 2024: 14k Jun 2024: 14k Jul 2024: 14k Aug 2024: 13k Sep 2024: 14k Oct 2024: 13k Nov 2024: 12k Dec 2024: 10k Jan 2025: 11k Feb 2025: 11k Mar 2025: 13k Apr 2025: 13k May 2025: 14k Jun 2025: 16k Jul 2025: 16k Aug 2025: 14k Sep 2025: 14k Oct 2025: 14k Nov 2025: 12k Dec 2025: 11k Jan 2026: 11k Feb 2026: 11k Mar 2026: 13k Apr 2026: 12k May 2026: 12k

Source: NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis, to May 2026

Diclofenac sodium versus Fluorouracil (Sunscreen), May 2026
Measure Diclofenac sodium Fluorouracil (Sunscreen)
Items, May 2026 12,031 10,020
Items, last 12 months 156,293 143,595
Net ingredient cost, May 2026 £542,632 £342,066

See the full profile for Diclofenac sodium or Fluorouracil (Sunscreen).