HEALTH chiefs are striving to save millions of pounds by encouraging GPs to switch to non-branded drugs which reduce cholesterol.

Patients who need to reduce the blood substance, a major cause of heart disease, are currently prescribed one of a range of drugs known as statins, each sold under its manufacturer's brand.

But the East of England Strategic Health Authority wants doctors to prescribe one particular statin called Simvastatin, which now has a generic version as its patent has expired.

Bosses say Simvastatin is just as effective, despite costing six times less, and have written to GPs encouraging them to switch whenever possible.

If 80 per cent of prescriptions across the Eastern region were switched, the £23.8 million saved could be spent on other patient care.

Director of commissioning Dr Paul Watson said: "We must ensure we use NHS funds carefully and concentrate our spending where it can do the most good."

The proposed drug switch is backed by the NHS's national director for heart disease and stroke Roger Boyle, who said "I welcome the East of England initiative to increase the use of generic statins across the region."

New guidelines from the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (Nice), recommending patients with heart risks should be prescribed statins, will sharply boost demand to as much as 14 per cent of the adult population.

The drugs form the largest part of the NHS medication bill.

They are increasing by 30 per cent every year.