GPs asked to reduce drug spending

Island GPs are being asked to reduce spending on key drug areas as the Department of Health looks to make further cutbacks.

Dr Alex Allinson, chairman of the IoM Medical Society's GP sub committee, says discussions about cost effective treatment and the use of generic drugs to reduce spending on medication have been going on long before the current economic crisis.

But he says doctors are now getting more and more specific drug budget targets from the department.