“With annual medicines expenditure now reaching Pound 875 million, it is vital that we all work together to make the best possible use of our medicines.

“My Department already delivers significant efficiencies from the prescribing budget through the Medicines Optimisation Regional Efficiency (MORE) programme, which saves around Pound 20 million each year. However, further action is still needed.

“Medicines optimisation not only delivers cost benefits for the HSC system, it can also help reduce carbon emissions, improve patient safety and ensure equitable access to innovative treatments and technologies for future generations.”

“Medicines have a vital role in helping to prevent, treat, and cure disease. They are our most common medical intervention and are relied upon to support health and wellbeing throughout life.

“However, with medicine costs increasing annually, we need to take action to protect access to medicines for the future. This strategy sets out what we intend to do to help ensure the sustainable use of medicines and embed a culture of valuing medicines within the HSC and the wider population.

“I would like to thank everyone who contributed to the public consultation. These responses were invaluable in shaping the strategy we have launched today.”