South East London’s published figures show a wider problem for integrated care boards: the medicines line that is easiest to spot is not the same as the full cross-setting medicines economy leaders are being asked to manage.
Medicines are one of the NHS’s most powerful strategic levers, but leaders are often not looking at the same number when they talk about medicines spend.
In South East London, the ICB’s 2024/25 annual report shows £254.336 million of prescribing costs and £53.281 million of pharmaceutical services, a visible medicines facing line of £307.617 million.
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