National medical buying to rise after savings success
3 April 2012
NHS purchasing on a national contract basis will rise from a fifth of the total to a third following stronger than expected savings by the Purchasing and Supply Agency (Pasa).
Its annual report just out says that in its first year of operation the agency reduced spending on pharmaceuticals most strongly - more than £41 million, or 50 per cent above target.
Pasa, together with its sister agency NHS Logistics, replaced NHS Supplies in April 2000. Pasa’s target was to cut £111 million from its £2.2 billion annual spend, but savings have...