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The Ennogen extra strength cod liver oil was first prescribed in August last year, with seven prescriptions being dispensed at a total cost of £972. By October, chemists were prescribing £8,577 worth of the product in a month. In March, Ennogen was reimbursed £17,252 by the NHS for extra strength cod liver oil.

By April, the most recent month for which figures are available, Ennogen was reimbursed £49,471 in one month for cod liver oil products alone.

Last August, Ennogen supplied 0.2 per cent of the cod liver oil products dispensed by chemists. By March, it was supplying 10.7 per cent.

According to the data published by NHSBSA, around three quarters of the Ennogen extra strength cod liver oil is being dispensed by Lloyds Pharmacies.

The disclosures will add to concerns that the NHS system is not being properly policed. Last month, The Telegraph disclosed that drug companies were colluding with pharmacists to overcharge the NHS millions of pounds for a group of drugs called "specials".

The prices of more than 20,000 drugs could have been artificially inflated, with backhanders paid to chemists who agreed to sell them. Representatives of some pharmaceutical companies agreed to invoice chemists for drugs at up to double their actual cost. In the wake of the disclosures, this newspaper was contacted by a well-placed whistleblower, who raised concerns about the pricing of other products such as cod liver oil.

A Lloyds spokesman said that the group was committed to providing the NHS with value for money and had carried out an immediate review. "Steps have been taken to ensure a cheaper alternative is dispensed," he added.

The Department of Health said it would look urgently at the issue.