£1.3bn bill for prescriptions

Nov 24 2009

The NHS spent almost £1.3 billion on prescription drugs last year, official statistics show.

This accounted for 14.2% of the health service's operating budget of £9.3 billion in 2008/09 and equates to £247 for every person in Scotland.

Lib Dem health spokesman Ross Finnie described the figures as "truly staggering" and called on the SNP to rethink its policy of abolishing prescription charges.