Students may save the NHS £500m

Samena Chaudhry Birmingham

New computer software developed by a group of undergraduates could save the NHS millions of pounds by prescribing cheaper drugs. The "Script Switch" program, developed by a group of students at Warwick University, will automatically search for the least expensive form of medicine when a GP writes a prescription.

The students estimate that the software could shave 10% off the £5bn NHS drug budget, a saving of £500m a year, and the undergraduates say that dozens of GPs are already interested. "This will enable GPs to do the best job they can," said Andrew Bodsworth, a mature student who is studying computer science at Warwick and who is part of the team.

"The software will search all available information to optimise the cost efficiency of the prescription. The package will not only search for cheaper generic rather than branded drugs, but will also search out less expensive forms of a drug such as changing the size or suggesting a capsule rather than a pill." The idea came after a pharmacist made a chance remark to Mr Bodsworth saying that prescription advice to GPs should be made available over the Internet.

"Script Switch" is on display at the BBC's "Innovate" exhibition at Earls Court and the group of six students are forming a company that will sell the computer software to GP surgeries.

Dr Fay Wilson, secretary of the Birmingham division of the BMA, said: "This could have more benefit for pharmacists rather than GPs. It sounds great in theory but I have doubts whether it will be used in practice."



studentBMJ 2001;09:261-304 August ISSN 0966-6494