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Independent analysis of NHS open data
PharmaInsight

March 2023 in numbers

NHS community prescribing in England (Prescription Cost Analysis).
Data updated March 2023
104,455,850items

Dispensed in March 2023

NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis

£956,532,879

Net ingredient cost, March 2023

NHSBSA PCA

Most-dispensed medicines

Download full month (CSV)
Top medicines by items, March 2023
MedicineItemsNet ingredient cost
Atorvastatin 5,431,810 £6,692,780
Amlodipine 3,214,432 £3,337,605
Omeprazole 3,145,390 £14,690,177
Lansoprazole 2,971,023 £4,159,964
Levothyroxine sodium 2,959,281 £4,680,318
Ramipril 2,873,753 £4,113,257
Bisoprolol fumarate 2,472,496 £2,656,852
Colecalciferol 2,327,665 £9,459,812
Metformin hydrochloride 2,180,606 £7,405,087
Sertraline hydrochloride 2,012,504 £3,437,161
Salbutamol 1,852,803 £5,631,629
Aspirin 1,776,648 £1,471,548

Biggest risers

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

Biggest risers month on month
MedicineItemsChange
Oral rehydration salts 14,857 +30.3%
Progesterone 176,216 +27.0%
Sodium cromoglicate 50,689 +26.7%
Olopatadine 19,446 +26.1%
Chlorhexidine gluconate 13,157 +25.7%
Orlistat 35,160 +24.5%
Edoxaban 344,730 +23.9%
Skin Protectors 25,299 +23.7%

Biggest fallers

Largest month-on-month fall in items.

Biggest fallers month on month
MedicineItemsChange
Influenza 280,812 −33.8%
Capsaicin 10,367 −11.7%
Other individually formulated bought in preparations 27,203 −11.0%
Heparinoid 11,114 −3.8%
Terbinafine hydrochloride 14,891 +0.3%
Typhoid 37,370 +0.6%
Diphtheria 18,055 +2.4%
Amoxicillin 1,001,251 +4.6%