Critics have questioned figures released by the Spanish government, which show that since the introduction of a controversial co-payment scheme introduced in June there has been a fall in the national drugs bill.1

Money spent on drugs was €702.86m (£555.88m; $882.04m) this July, 23% lower than the same month last year when it stood at €923.98m. The number of prescriptions has also fallen by 14%, the Spanish ministry of health, social services, and equality announced on 28 August. Both figures represent the largest falls since 1999, when monthly reports were introduced.

The new co-payment, one of the …