The total cost of prescriptions issued by GPs in England and Wales rose from £9.16bn in 2014 to £9.58bn in 2015, according to latest figures.

In terms of drug categories, the highest total cost associated with general practice prescriptions was for diabetes drugs, respiratory corticosteroids, analgesics, antiepileptics and oral nutrition products, in descending order. As in 2014, these drug categories together accounted for just over one third of the total NIC associated with all English and Welsh general practice prescriptions in 2015.