Researchers from the University of Cardiff, Wales, have found that the British National Health Service (NHS) costs for diabetes drugs, even taking into account the price of inflation, went up by 104% between 2000 – 2008, the BBC reports. According to the researchers the NHS is spending too much on diabetes drugs that account for 7% of the UK prescribing budget.A big rise in the number of people with type 2 diabetes in recent years does not fully explain the soaring costs.
Researchers pointed to marked increases in use of newer and more expensive therapies like rosiglitazone, as well as increasing use of insulin, which have been marketed aggressively by the drug companies.
The researchers say that the NHS needs to get a hold on the situation.
