Community Pharmacy England has been informed that the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) is seeing an increase in prescriptions where patients are claiming prescription charge exemption by selecting the “HRT only prescription prepayment certificate” exemption reason for products that are not covered by the HRT Prescription Prepayment Certificate (HRT PPC). For example, patients are incorrectly
Read moreFollowing representations from Community Pharmacy England, with the support of Novo Nordisk Ltd, the Department of Health of Social Care (DHSC) has re-determined the special container status of Rybelsus® (semaglutide) tablets. From 1 April 2024, all three strengths of Rybelsus® tablets (3mg, 7mg and 14mg) will be re-classified as special containers to be supplied as
Read moreThe new FreeStyle Libre® 2 Plus sensors recently launched by Abbott Diabetes Care Ltd have been added to the Appliances section in Part IXA of the April 2024 Drug Tariff. At the same time, the sensors have also been included in the Drugs for which Discount is Not Deducted (DND) list (Part II of the Drug Tariff).
Read moreThe Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has today announced plans to update legislation which will enable registered pharmacy technicians to supply and administer medicines under a patient group direction (PGD). This announcement follows a DHSC consultation on the use of PGDs by Pharmacy Technicians last year, which Community Pharmacy England responded to positively.
Read moreThe start of April 2024 marks the end of the five-year Contractual Framework arrangement which was agreed in the summer of 2019. Negotiations on the arrangements for the coming financial year – 2024/25 – are still in progress between Community Pharmacy England, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and NHS England. Until these
Read moreBy Chief Executive Janet Morrison As we reach the end of the five-year CPCF deal it’s likely that commissioners of pharmacy services will want to focus on all that has been achieved for patients and the public. It is no exaggeration to say that community pharmacies played a critical role in getting not just the
Read moreThe Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) is currently unable to confirm whether or not NHS prescription charges will be uplifted in 2024. The NHS prescription charge and the cost of Prescription Pre-payment Certificates (PPCs) are reviewed annually with changes usually made in April, but this year the Government has yet to conclude consideration
Read moreThe Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), under the direction of Ministers, has this week published the April Drug Tariff introducing changes to their approach to concessions pricing. These changes, which are untested, have been imposed by the Government without our agreement and Community Pharmacy England opposes them in the strongest terms. No recovery
Read moreCommunity Pharmacy England Chief Executive Janet Morrison has contacted the chair of the Health and Social Care Committee Steve Brine MP following the Committee’s latest pharmacy inquiry session earlier this week (26 March). At this week’s session the Committee heard from pharmacy minister, Andrea Leadsom MP, as well as from Amanda Doyle and David Webb
Read moreFollowing discussions between Community Pharmacy England and the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) regarding medicine pricing issues reported by pharmacy owners, the Department has today (28/03/2024) announced the following list of price concessions for March 2024: Drug Pack size Price concession Amoxicillin 250mg/5ml oral suspension 100 £2.49 Aripiprazole 5mg tablets 28 £5.64 Benzylpenicillin
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