Prescription pricing databases should include more details to assess prescribing rationality

doi:10.1136/bmj.322.7279.173

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Hugh McGavock, visiting professor (prescribing science), University of Ulster

55 Culcrum Road, Cloughmills, County Antrim BT44 9NJ

EDITOR—Campbell et al's study on prescribing indicators for general practices in the United Kingdom showed how difficult it is to conduct quality assurance of prescribing by using the existing prescription pricing databases in the United Kingdom.1 The authors selected 41 proxies of rational prescribing from prescribing analysis and cost (PACT) data, the English system. Only seven of these were rated as valid for economic rationality (cost) and five for scientific rationality (quality). …