The report called for a national electronic prescribing system

An Audit Scotland study said health authorities also needed to improve the way medicine use was monitored.

The cost of drugs is rising at almost twice the rate of overall NHS spending, the report said.

Audit Scotland called on the Scottish Executive to set a target for the introduction of a national hospital electronic prescribing system.

Staff training

The system would help monitor how medicine was used in hospitals and whether patients were receiving the most appropriate types.

The report also urged hospitals to take steps to anticipate the cost of new medicine, improve staff training on their use and tackle the shortfall in qualified pharmacy staff.

Deputy auditor general Caroline Gardner said: "New medicines are continually being developed to treat more conditions and achieve better results for patients.

"However, spending on medicines is rising faster than NHS spending overall.

"NHS boards need to manage this by improving planning and budget setting and promoting cost effective prescribing."

We did identify a general concern that some junior doctors aren't getting very much training on prescribing Caroline Gardner Deputy Auditor General

She added: "In addition, all staff prescribing medicines must have access to current, reliable information and expert advice to make the best use of medicines.

"This is particularly important as increasing numbers of new medicines and increasingly complex medicines become available."

"We did identify a general concern that some junior doctors aren't getting very much training on prescribing as part of their medical education."

Ms Gardner went on: "We're suggesting that the health department should be looking at training outwith the medical schools.

"We're also suggesting the health department makes sure that the right information on the right drug for the right patient is available as junior doctors are actually writing a prescription."

'Careful management'

The auditor continued: "We think the benefits of having a national system across Scotland really would outweigh the costs.

"It would obviously need careful management and what we're looking to do is build on experience in some parts of Scotland to make sure that the health department's got a plan for what's going to be achieved and what the key timescales are for doing that."

Scottish National Party health spokeswoman Shona Robison said that nurses, midwives and pharmacy staff needed to be fully trained in dispensing and administering medicines.

We welcome the fact that the report recognises the significant progress made to date Andy Kerr Health Minister

She said: "The shortfall in qualified pharmacy staff highlighted in the report must be addressed as soon as possible to ensure that patient care does not suffer."

Health Minister Andy Kerr said: "In all areas of the NHS we expect boards and staff to deliver value for money while ensuring high quality services for patients.

"We have already been working with the NHS on these issues and will continue this work to further improve the management of how medicines are prescribed.