Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many prescriptions of Zyban (bupropion hydrochloride) were dispensed by (a) the NHS and (b) community pharmacies in each of the last three years.
NHS Digital reports that it does not hold the prescription level data requested. NHS Digital holds data about prescription items dispensed by doctors and community pharmacies in England which is available in the following table.
Year | Chemical | Dispensed by dispensing doctors | Dispensed by community pharmacies | All dispensing in the community |
2015 | Bupropion Hydrochloride | 1,130 | 20,701 | 21,831 |
2016 | Bupropion Hydrochloride | 1,110 | 21,231 | 22,341 |
2017 | Bupropion Hydrochloride | 1,084 | 22,254 | 23,338 |
Source: Prescription Cost Analysis, NHS Digital
NHS Digital does not hold data on drugs dispensed in hospitals, including mental health trusts, or private prescriptions.