Over five million people in the UK could be put at risk of side effects in a new NHS cost cutting scheme. The health service is set to save over £70 million with the new rules which means that pharmacists must opt for a cheaper alternative of drugs if there is one available. It also means that pharmacists will be able to change a patient’s prescription without speaking with their doctor for the first time, excluding during an emergency. Asthma sufferers, epileptics and patients with bipolar disease are set to be among those affected. While the generic, unbranded alternatives are most of the time exactly the same as their more expensive counterparts, sometimes ingredients can differ within a certain percentage. Other factors, like colourings can also change within different versions of a drug and may cause side effects within some patients. Some critics have even said that the cost of treating in adverse effects of drugs could end up costing the NHS more money.


The NHS is more than likely going to have cut costs in many areas in the coming years as the government will struggle to carry on the amount of funding it has pumped in during the last decade. Some patients may be worried that these cuts could affect their health and experts are calling for some medications like some epilepsy drugs to be exempt from the new rules. Some people however, may wish to pay extra to ensure that they can carry on taking the more expensive drugs which they know suit them. Topping up treatment that is already available on the NHS is something which cash plan private medical insurance is ideal for. It is a low cost way for people to have access to private health care if they so wish.