New report spotlights overprescribing

A long-awaited report on overprescribing from the Department of Health and Social Care was published last month.1 The term ‘overprescribing’ is an interesting one that will be relatively unfamiliar to many readers, perhaps too readily conflated with ‘polypharmacy’. It's more nuanced than that, though – it's about prescribing when there are alternatives available, medication inappropriate for individual patient, or benefit need no longer present. doesn't tell us much we didn't already know size cause problem. We prescribe huge amounts, in seven people five daily medicines. There's important sociodemographic variation. driven by numerous factors, including issues systems such as poor discharge letters, a problematic repeat process, inadequate patient records. However, does make recommendations addressing issue. My own involvement chairing work research evidence. detail has not found its way into final “more required” probably fair summary what written. But hopefully comprehensive informed find light day part implementation programme, which led new National Clinical Director Prescribing. There also focused improving with, particular improved clinical informatics records, better transfers care. me, most telling recommendation shift culture. I wholeheartedly agree. practice continues broadly adhere biomedical model, aggravated guidance quality incentives single conditions. argues overly reliant medicines, understand balance benefits harms, well familiarise ourselves non-pharmacological alternatives. Although without appropriate resources, am sceptical changes happen soon. Of course, training something essential achieve change. And if culture change agenda, then best time do this early possible. One month's articles two senior medical students who provide personal insight learning specific aspect namely paediatric prescribing. They highlight some key challenges children raises useful suggestions those delivering teaching may wish consider. older populations likely receive far attention curriculae youngsters. suspect polypharmacy still inadequate. Hopefully, undergraduate courses heed report, so next generation prescribers recognise importance these their careers, prompting required improve how use medicines safely, effectively excessively future.