SCOTTISH MEDICINES CONSORTIUM
NHS SCOTLAND
Providing advice about the status of all newly licensed medicines
Publications
SMC Annual Reports
SMC Evaluation Programme
In 2006, the SMC commissioned the National Medicines Utilisation Unit (NMUU) to explore how SMC has impacted on and engaged with its key stakeholders and to examine how SMC advice has shaped medicines use across NHSScotland. The first phase of this evaluation is now complete and the summary and full reports can be accessed by clicking on the links below:
- Evaluation of how SMC has engaged with its key stakeholders and shaped medicines use across NHSScotland
- Evaluation of the SMC’s impact on and engagement with stakeholders.
- SMC ‘not recommended’ advice – an investigation of medicines use across Scotland.
- SMC ‘accepted for use’ and ‘accepted for restricted use’ advice - an investigation of medicines use across Scotland.
- Measuring adherence of NHS boards to SMC advice for ‘unique’ treatments.
- An evaluation of manufacturer’s budget impact estimates with resource use over time in NHSScotland.
Read the summary report1. Medicine profiles for SMC ‘not recommended’ medicines
These medicine profiles provide information on the use of SMC ‘not recommended’ medicines in primary care in Scotland. They were prepared using data from the Prescribing Information System for Scotland (PRISMS) and the manufacturer’s submission to the SMC. Some of this information may now be out of date and should be interpreted with caution.
The numbers of patients treated were estimated using the Gross Ingredient Cost (GIC) from PRISMS and costs from the British National Formulary (BNF) or manufacturer’s estimate. The actual patient base, age and gender of patients treated and the indication of the medicine for which it has been used are unknown. The data should therefore be interpreted with caution.
2. SMC ‘accepted for use’ and ‘accepted for restricted use’ advice - an investigation of medicines utilisation across Scotland.
(a) Medicine profiles for SMC ‘accepted for use’ and ‘accepted for restricted use’ medicines in primary care
These medicine profiles provide information on the use of SMC ‘accepted for use’ and ‘accepted for restricted use’ medicines in primary care in Scotland. They have been prepared using data from the Prescribing Information System for Scotland (PRISMS) and the manufacturer’s submission to the SMC. Some of this information may now be out of date and should be interpreted with caution.
The numbers of patients treated were estimated using the Gross Ingredient Cost (GIC) from PRISMS and costs from the British National Formulary (BNF) or manufacturer’s estimate. The actual patient base, age and sex of patients treated and the indication of the medicine are unknown. For medicines that are accepted for restricted use, it is not possible to identify whether the data reflects the SMC restriction. All data should therefore be interpreted with caution.
(b) Medicine profiles for SMC ‘accepted for use’ and ‘accepted for restricted use’ medicines in hospitals
These medicine profiles provide information on the use of SMC ‘accepted for use’ and ‘accepted for restricted use’ medicines in hospitals in Scotland. They have been prepared using data from hospitals and manufacturers, and the manufacturer’s submission to the SMC. Some of this information may now be out of date and should be interpreted with caution.
Unlike primary care, there is no national database of medicines prescribed in hospitals and there was variation in the reporting and completeness of data from hospitals and manufacturers. The numbers of patients treated were estimated using the NHSScotland hospital spend and costs from the British National Formulary (BNF) or manufacturer’s estimate. The actual patient base, age and gender of patients treated and the indication for which the medicine was used are unknown. For medicines that are accepted for restricted use, it is not possible to identify whether the data reflects the SMC restriction. All data should therefore be interpreted with caution.
Disclaimer: While every effort has been made to ensure that the information contained within the medicine profiles is accurate, no responsibility or liability can be accepted by those involved in their production for any loss, injury or damage which is suffered as a consequence of any errors, omissions or inaccuracies contained within them. In particular, those prescribing drugs should always check the suitability of the drug and dosage based on the information provided by the manufacturer.