Skip to content
Independent analysis of NHS open data
PharmaInsight

December 2021 in numbers

NHS community prescribing in England (Prescription Cost Analysis).
Data updated December 2021
100,852,702items

Dispensed in December 2021

NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis

£857,077,056

Net ingredient cost, December 2021

NHSBSA PCA

Most-dispensed medicines

Download full month (CSV)
Top medicines by items, December 2021
MedicineItemsNet ingredient cost
Atorvastatin 4,771,091 £6,895,481
Omeprazole 3,105,672 £8,029,177
Amlodipine 2,937,836 £3,444,235
Levothyroxine sodium 2,933,416 £5,421,909
Lansoprazole 2,782,335 £4,219,486
Ramipril 2,709,501 £4,143,335
Bisoprolol fumarate 2,368,730 £2,439,361
Colecalciferol 2,221,667 £8,310,358
Metformin hydrochloride 2,082,233 £7,920,299
Salbutamol 1,985,474 £4,959,434
Sertraline hydrochloride 1,834,590 £5,233,144
Aspirin 1,820,251 £2,073,359

Biggest risers

Largest month-on-month rise in items (medicines above 10,000 items).

Biggest risers month on month
MedicineItemsChange
Latanoprost and timolol 31,862 +11.6%
Midazolam hydrochloride 23,789 +11.3%
Insulin degludec 51,629 +10.5%
Insulin Lispro 39,725 +10.1%
Famotidine 98,585 +10.1%
Chloramphenicol 122,454 +10.1%
Neomycin sulfate 32,449 +9.9%
Dapagliflozin 186,678 +9.9%

Biggest fallers

Largest month-on-month fall in items.

Biggest fallers month on month
MedicineItemsChange
Influenza 1,458,703 −45.2%
Pneumococcal 11,745 −33.3%
Fluorouracil (Sunscreen) 15,532 −15.9%
Peak Flow Meters 41,044 −13.4%
Adrenaline 23,792 −13.2%
Sodium fluoride 102,363 −12.6%
Arm Sling/Bandages 45,190 −9.8%
Triamcinolone acetonide 12,623 −9.7%