The over-the-counter (OTC) medicines sector saves the NHS £6.4bn a year and delivers significant economic and productivity benefits, according to a new report by PAGB.
The consumer healthcare association said wider adoption of self-care could unlock a further £1.7bn in annual NHS savings by reducing demand for GP appointments and prescription medicines.
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The Economic and Growth Value of the over-the-counter (OTC) Sector report highlighted the role of OTC medicines in helping people manage minor and self-limiting conditions.
The report said that OTC products help reduce the economic cost of lost productivity by £18 billion annually in the UK, with employees relying on OTC medicines to work an average of five extra days per year .
Drawing on data published over the past three years, the report argued that embedding self-care more firmly across the health system would support the government's ambition to create a healthier population and a more sustainable NHS.
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PAGB's analysis also underlined the OTC sector's contribution to economic growth. The report said that the OTC sector contributes £2.8bn in exports and £600m in wages each year, supporting jobs across regions targeted for economic renewal.
It also said that the UK consumer health market was valued at £4.1 billion in 2024, with sales up 8% from 2023 and strong growth projections for the next five years.
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PAGB is urging the Government to formally recognise the sector's role by including it in the Life Sciences Council, arguing that this would ensure OTC medicines are properly represented in health and industrial policy.
The report also called on ministers to prioritise delivery of self-care commitments set out in the 10-Year Health Plan and to create a more supportive regulatory environment for reclassifying medicines from prescription-only to OTC.
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