GP fundholding and prescribing in UK general practice evidence from two rural, English Family Health Services Authorities

Background: Two separate prescribing budget regimes (part of GP fundholding and the indicative prescribing scheme) were introduced into UK general practice in April 1991 in an attempt to contain the growth in NHS expenditure on prescribed drugs.Objectives: The aims of this study are (i) to examine whether the fundholding scheme has been more effective at containing prescribing cost growth than the indicative prescribing scheme and (ii) to …