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Prescription Cost Analysis (PCA) Monthly Administrative Data
Dataset Description
Prescription Cost Analysis (PCA) shows the total volume and cost for drugs, dressings, appliances, and medical devices that have been dispensed in the community in England and submitted to the NHSBSA for reimbursement monthly.
This dataset is designed to provide the total number of prescription items and spend for any individual product, at any level of the British National Formulary (BNF) hierarchy. For example, for Paracetamol 500mg tablets, or collections of products such as antibacterial drugs, antidepressant drugs, or dressings.
This data mirrors the methodology used in the PCA Annual National Statistics publication.
The latest statistical release, along with more information on what PCA contains, can be found on the NHSBSA website and you can specifically read the Prescription Cost Analysis Background Information and Methodology. The monthly PCA release is a monthly management information data set and is not an Official Statistic.
Data for February 2008 to March 2021 is available on the NHSBSA website in a legacy format.
Overview of Service
Information about our NHSBSA Prescriptions Data service can be found here - Prescription data | NHSBSA
Dataset Details
NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) Data Warehouse. The dataset is provided from Prescription data collected by the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) for the operational purpose of reimbursing and remunerating dispensing contractors for the costs of supplying drugs and devices, and providing essential and advanced services, to NHS patients. The data that forms the basis of these statistics is collected as a by-product of this process. Data is published retrospectively with a two-month delay. For example, January data is published in March.
Historical Data: Data is available from January 2021 onwards. The PCA dataset is limited to a view of items dispensed only in the community in England, regardless of whether they were prescribed in England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, and State authorities such as Guernsey, Jersey, Alderney, and Isle of Man. Management Information - This is not an official statistic. If you have any queries regarding the data provided, or if you plan on publishing the data, please contact DataServicesSupport@nhsbsa.nhs.uk ensuring you quote the name of the dataset for reference. This is important to ensure that the figures are not misunderstood or misrepresented. If you plan on producing a press or broadcast story based upon the data, please contact communicationsteam@nhsbsa.nhs.uk. This is important to ensure that the figures are not misunderstood or misrepresented. The information supplied to you continues to be protected by the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 and/or other applicable law. You may use the data freely, provided that you attribute the source. NHS Business Services Authority. "Prescription Cost Analysis (PCA) Monthly Administrative Data.” NHS Business Services Authority Open Data. Accessed **[Date Accessed]**. URL: https://opendata.nhsbsa.net/dataset/prescription-cost-analysis-pca-monthly-data
2026-04-29: Corrected file uploaded - see change log
2026-01-07: Data file re-run to remove data for coronavirus...
Data Source
Data Collection
Time Periods
Geography
Statistical Classification
Caveats
Excluded Items
The dataset does not include items that were not dispensed, were disallowed, or were returned to the contractor for further clarification.
Prescribing Contexts Not Included
Prescriptions that are prescribed and dispensed within prisons, hospitals, or issued as private prescriptions are not included in this dataset.
Unsubmitted or Unclaimed Items
Items that were prescribed but either not presented for dispensing, or not submitted to NHS Prescription Services by the dispenser, are also excluded.
Further Information
Additional limitations of the dataset can be found in the
Prescription Cost Analysis Background Information and Methodology.
Enquiries
Who can I contact if I have queries relating to the data?
Citing and Reusing This Data
Important information regarding reusing the data and copyright
Citation
Data and Resources
Additional Info
Field
Value
Source
NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) Data warehouse
Contact
NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA)
Version
1.0
State
active
Last Updated
April 29, 2026, 11:28 (UTC)
Created
June 16, 2021, 14:46 (UTC)