Open AccessUsers and costs of the Scottish Direct Supply of Medicines scheme
Author(s) -
Schafheutle Ellen I.,
Noyce Peter R.,
Sheehy Christine,
Jones Lyn
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
international journal of pharmacy practice
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.42
H-Index - 37
eISSN - 2042-7174
pISSN - 0961-7671
DOI - 10.1111/j.2042-7174.2002.tb00668.x
Subject(s) - medicine , scheme (mathematics) , mathematics , mathematical analysis
Focal points The direct supply of medicines (DSoM) scheme in Scotland allows patients exempt from prescription charges to access over‐the‐counter (OTC) medication free of charge, thus removing the financial disincentive for exempt patients to consult their GP Three‐quarters of the consultations with community pharmacists under the scheme in the first 11 months involved patients with age‐related exemptions; over half involved children under 16 Patients exempt on the basis of low‐income grounds also consulted commonly, representing around 20 per cent Of the non‐prescription medicines supplied during the first nine months of the scheme, over 44 per cent cost £1 or less; the mean net ingredient cost per CP consultation for this period was about £2 The DSoM scheme provides an efficient and inexpensive arrangement for managing minor ailments in exempt patients through community pharmacies