Putting drug prices on pharma labels for prescriptions could significantly cut wastage and make savings for the NHS, according to one organisation.

The King's Fund has urged pharmacies and manufacturers to make the cost of creating medication available to patients, perhaps by putting it on printed labels, according to GP Online.

"Consideration should be given to research to see if medication adherence can be improved by labelling prescriptions with the cost to the NHS," its report commented.

However, Dr Bill Beeby from the General Practitioners' Committee has said this may not be a good idea, as it could deter patients such as the elderly from taking their medication or even getting it prescribed to them in the first place.

The King's Fund argued that the current system for the pricing of generic drugs is in need of urgent revision.

It was recently revealed by the NHS Information Centre that prescriptions increased by 70 per cent between 2000 and 2010.

Denny Bros Ltd, 08 August 2011