There are flaws in the prescription of medicines, a new review by the National Audit Office shows.
– In the period November–December 2022 alone, incorrect prescribing of new diabetes drugs that are also effective against obesity cost society approximately SEK 20 million, says Gabriella Sjögren Lindquist, project manager for the review.
The National Audit Office’s review of the state and the regions’ drug prescribing is complete. It shows shortcomings in drug prescribing of drugs classified as narcotics, botox for wrinkles and diabetes drugs for slimming, among other things.
– In practice, this means a great risk that serious misconduct will never be discovered. The regions warn that this is being exploited by organized crime, says Auditor General Helena Lindberg.
The shortcomings are due, among other things, to the fact that the responsible authorities lack the conditions for effective supervision. For example, the Inspectorate for Care and Care (IVO) lacks the ability to use existing register data to search for doctors and others who incorrectly prescribe drugs classified as narcotics or other desirable preparations.
Long processing times
The situation is made worse by the fact that IVO has very long processing times for its supervisory cases; on average over a year. Since the most serious cases go on from IVO to the Health Care Accountability Board (HSAN), which has an equally long processing time, the incorrect prescription can last for several years.
– According to our assessment, this is contrary to the administrative act’s requirement for quick coordination, says Gabriella Sjögren Lindquist.
In the past, the Swedish Medicines Agency has urged doctors to only prescribe diabetes medicines to diabetes patients.
“There are signs that the greatly increased prescription of certain drugs for weight loss has meant that diabetics have been left without their medication,” says a press release from the Swedish Medicines Agency.
Recommendations in brief
The government is recommended, among other things, to:
Give IVO the opportunity to use data on the prescription of medicines in its supervision
Investigate how incorrect use of pharmaceutical subsidies can be prevented and how the regions can be compensated for incorrect payments
Transfer the state subsidy for the pharmaceutical benefits to the municipal equalization system.