Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West are among the areas spending the least on NHS prescriptions per person in England, according to a new study.
Research by online pharmacy Cured Pharmacy,analysed NHS prescription cost data against population figures to identify which Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) spend the most and least on medication.
The Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West ICB ranked 33rd out of England's 42 ICBs for prescription spending per person.
According to the analysis, the ICB spent a total of £301.9 million on prescriptions, dispensing 29.5 million items to a population of just over two million people.
That equates to £149.88 per person, significantly below the England average of £182.33 per person.
The area was also well behind the highest-spending regions in the country.
NHS Cambridgeshire and Peterborough topped the rankings, spending £379.82 per person on prescriptions, followed by Herefordshire and Worcestershire (£347.81) and West Yorkshire (£292.42).
At the other end of the scale, London dominated the lowest-spending positions.
North West London spent the least per person on prescriptions at £115.74, followed by South East London (£118.45) and South West London (£119.49).
The study used the latest figures from the NHS Business Services Authority and NHS England population data to compare prescription costs across the country.
Integrated Care Boards are responsible for planning and funding health services in their local areas.
A spokesperson for Cured Pharmacy said the findings highlighted a significant gap in prescription spending between different parts of England.
Tarun Kumar, co-founder and superintendent pharmacist at Cured Pharmacy, said: "What stands out is the enormous variation across England.
"Cambridgeshire and Peterborough spends more than three times per person what North West London does, and that gap is largely driven by the cost of individual prescriptions rather than the volume.
"This could reflect differences in the types of medications being prescribed, such as higher proportions of specialist or newer treatments in certain areas."
Across England as a whole, more than 1.29 billion prescription items were dispensed at a total cost of £11.64 billion.
While Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West sits below the national average for prescription spending, neighbouring Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes recorded an even lower figure of £139.36 per person, placing it 36th in the rankings.
The findings suggest prescription spending can vary considerably depending on local population health needs, prescribing patterns and the types of medication being issued.
The study was conducted using prescription cost data from the NHS Business Services Authority and population estimates published by NHS England.
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