During a discussion on Channel 4 News, doctors spoke about the increased use in statins (a drug used to lower cholesterol levels) and whether patients should get more of a say in their care- be it using prescription drugs or receiving therapy and changing their lifestyles.
Dr Claire Gerada, Chair of NHS London Board for Transforming Primary Care, argued the case against ‘over-medicalisation’ in the UK, telling newsreader Jon Snow: “The one certainty is the we are all going to die… We need to focus on quality of life over quantity of life.”
The discussion came following a report which stated that half of the UK population are taking prescription drugs, reportedly costing the NHS £15 billion a year.
The figures do not include contraception and products to help people quit smoking.
One of the report’s authors, Dr Jennifer Mindell, told the BBC: "This is the first nationally-representative study to report on the use of prescribed medicines taken by people in the community, not just those within the healthcare system.
"That half of men over 65 are taking cholesterol-lowering medicines reflects the high risk of cardiovascular disease in this group.
"Stopping smoking, being a healthy weight, eating more vegetables and fruit, and being physically active reduce people's risk of these diseases, for people who want to avoid taking medicines."
You may also be interested in:** KERRY KATONA TWEETS ABOUT 'BIPOLAR' TROUBLES**