The cost of drugs rises

As the influence of technology and manufacturing costs for medicines increase, the price of the most frequent healthcare intervention rises. The costs of capital assets, raw materials, technology, waste disposal and energy used in the production of drugs often offset the initial investment in research and development. As the price of drugs increases, so too does the level of risk, and pharmacists are expected to play a greater role in providing patient assurances.

Proposed workforce impact

• Pharmacists are increasingly sought as the ‘medicines expert’.

Sources or references

• http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/29/business/cost-of-brand-name-prescription-medicines-soaring.html
• www.improvement.nhs.uk/Default.aspx?alias=www. improvement.nhs.uk/qipp
• http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-14650107
• http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/exclusive-ms-drug-rebranded--at-up-to-20-times-the-price-8209885.html
• http://www.epilepsyresearch.org.uk/epilepsy-drugs-price-rise-is-incomprehensible/

Additional research questions

• How will patient expectations change with the rising cost of drugs?

Some of the information in this section is provided by stakeholders and expert groups, and does not necessarily represent the views of the CfWI.