Overprescribing: what it is and why it matters

At Big Health, we exist to make psychologicaltreatment just as accessible as pharmaceuticals. As a result, overreliance onpharmaceuticals - sometimes referred to as overprescribing - is a problem weare committed to tackling, in partnership with the NHS.

Overprescribing is the use of amedicine where there is a better non-medicine alternative, or the use isinappropriate for that patients’ circumstances and wishes.

That definition comes from theGovernment’s National Overprescribing Review report, published in 2021, which lays out a plan toreduce overprescribing - to make patient care better and safer, to support theNHS, and to reduce carbon emissions.

The report noted that medicinesdo people a lot of good and that, where those medicines are effective, theymust not be taken away from people. However, the report also noted thatmedicines can cause harm and can be wasted, estimating that at least 10% of thetotal number of prescription items in primary care need not have beenissued. 

Overprescribing matters becauseit has a direct and avoidable impact on patients' health. It can lead toadverse physical and mental health outcomes, including harmful side effects,unnecessary hospital visits, and preventable admissions. In vulnerable groups,such as the elderly or those with chronic conditions, the consequences ofoverprescribing can be even more severe. Communities including Black, Asian,and Minority Ethnic groups may also face a disproportionate negative impact.¹ 

Overprescribing also contributesto the waste of valuable NHS resources, which is particularly important in atime where NHS budgets are under increasing pressure. 

While the reasons foroverprescribing are complex, one main reason is simple: a lack of access tonon-medicine alternatives. If pharmaceuticals are available but alternativeslike psychological treatment are not, it is easy to understand why clinicians oftenfeel they have no option but to prescribe.

Digital treatments offer apromising solution. Digital treatments are evidence-based interventions thatdeliver psychological treatment, accessed via an app or online platform.Similar to pharmaceuticals, digital treatments are rigorously tested in clinicaltrials to prove they are safe and effective. For example, Sleepio is a digitaltreatment for insomnia that delivers cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia(CBTi) via an app and online. Sleepio is proven to be more clinically effectiveand cost-saving compared to sleeping pills and sleep hygiene, and is thereforerecommended for use in the NHS by the National Institute of Health and CareExcellence (NICE).

By integrating digitaltreatments like Sleepio into routine healthcare, the NHS could drasticallyincrease access to psychological treatment and reduce over-reliance onmedications. This approach aligns with the NHS's broader goal of improving carequality, reducing harm, and making more efficient use of resources.