A Review of Access Pathways for Medicines Within Health and Social Care, Northern Ireland
Date published:
Medicines are the most common medical intervention within Health and Social Care (HSC),
with an annual expenditure of circa £875m per annum. Given that this is the second largest
HSC spend after salaries, it is worthy of a concerted focus to ensure equality and efficiency in
the various medicines access processes.
This review aims to artculate existing arrangements for access to medicines in Northern
Ireland (NI), consider arrangements in place across the UK, identify the case for change
following assessment of the current and future medicines access landscape, and develop
recommendaons for change aimed at ensuring continued timely, equitable access to
clinically and cost-effective medicines for the NI population on a sustainable basis.