THE NHS has saved taxpayers £1.2 billion in just three years - while securing cutting-edge treatments for patients - by using its buying power to negotiate better prices for hundreds of hospital medicines.

The adoption of cheaper versions of a single drug – adalimumab – has accounted for about one third of the savings.

The drug is used to treat more than 45,000 patients with rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease and psoriasis.

After the exclusive patent on the drug expired in 2018, the NHS struck cost-saving deals to bulk-buy generic versions, which have the same quality, safety and efficacy of a branded one.

NHS Chief Executive, Amanda Pritchard, said: “Smart deals by the NHS mean patients are getting the best medicines and taxpayers are getting best value.

“The NHS has once again shown our commercial power to secure cutting-edge treatments for patients while freeing up taxpayers’ money, through negotiating better prices for high volumes of branded and non-branded drugs – ensuring that our frontline staff have the necessary medicines to support high-quality patient care.

“From better value treatment for arthritis to a ‘one-shot’ jab for spinal muscular atrophy, this approach is part of our NHS Long Term Plan, giving patients access to the latest life-changing medicines as early as possible.”