Following 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 (13/02/2024) announced the following initial list of price concessions for February 2024.
Drug
Pack size
Price concession
Atorvastatin 80mg tablets
28
£2.64
Azithromycin 250mg capsules
6
£4.67
Bimatoprost 300micrograms/ml / Timolol 5mg/ml eye drops
3
£4.55
Bumetanide 1mg tablets
28
£2.69
Clarithromycin 500mg tablets
14
£7.63
Co-amoxiclav 500mg/125mg tablets
21
£4.25
Co-codamol 30mg/500mg tablets
30
£1.32
Co-codamol 30mg/500mg tablets
100
£4.40
Cyclizine 50mg/1ml solution for injection ampoules
5
£5.56
Donepezil 5mg tablets
28
£1.85
Duloxetine 60mg gastro-resistant capsules
28
£3.65
Glycopyrronium bromide 200micrograms/1ml solution for injection ampoules
10
£11.80
Haloperidol 1.5mg tablets
28
£3.68
Hydrocortisone 2.5% cream
15
£46.83
Irbesartan 300mg tablets
28
£1.42
Isotretinoin 20mg capsules
30
£11.03
Ivabradine 7.5mg tablets
56
£4.51
Lamotrigine 100mg tablets
56
£3.51
Lamotrigine 200mg tablets
56
£5.15
Lamotrigine 25mg tablets
56
£1.92
Lamotrigine 5mg dispersible tablets sugar free
28
£10.05
Mebeverine 200mg modified-release capsules
60
£6.59
Memantine 10mg/ml oral solution sugar free
50
£45.46
Memantine 20mg tablets
28
£1.61
Metformin 1g modified-release tablets
56
£2.88
Metformin 500mg modified-release tablets
56
£1.83
Metformin 500mg/5ml oral solution sugar free
150
£26.50
Methylphenidate 10mg tablets
30
£3.09
Metoprolol 50mg tablets
28
£3.75
Montelukast 10mg tablets
28
£2.20
Montelukast 5mg chewable tablets sugar free
28
£1.21
Piroxicam 0.5% gel
60
£1.83
Piroxicam 0.5% gel
112
£3.43
Quinine sulfate 300mg tablets
28
£3.94
Risperidone 1mg/ml oral solution sugar free
100
£3.13
Simvastatin 80mg tablets
28
£1.61
Spironolactone 50mg tablets
28
£4.03
Please note: We are still in discussion with DHSC on a number other medicines affected by pricing issues this month. We will issue further updates as soon as we hear back from the Department.
No additional endorsements are required for price concessions. A price concession only applies for the month it is granted; any prices agreed for concessions requested late in the month will roll over into the following month.
We encourage pharmacies to report any problems obtaining a Part VIII product at or below the stated Drug Tariff price, using the online feedback form on the Community Pharmacy England website. Please include full details of the supplier and price paid for any products sourced above the Drug Tariff price. We will investigate the extent of the problem and, if appropriate, discuss the issue with DHSC.
Please subscribe to our mailing list to receive email updates of any price concessions.
Further information on price concessions and FAQs about the process involved can be found on our website (cpe.org.uk/priceconcessions) To hear more on how the current price concessions system operates, pharmacy teams can now access a recording of our recent Medicines Supply and Concessions Briefing webinar here.
Improvements to the price concession system
Following significant concerns raised by pharmacies about the unsustainable level of prices imposed by DHSC in second half of 2022, it was agreed that an urgent review of the price concession setting system would take place.
Since this announcement, we have sent a strong and clear message back to Government that pharmacies cannot continue to subsidise the NHS medicines bill. Following the review of the concessionary price process, a package of measures has been developed to improve the system.
One of the solutions agreed between us and DHSC is that from 1st April 2023, all products granted a concessionary price will be classified as ‘Discount Not Deducted’ for the month(s) in which they are on concession.
Furthermore, from May 2023, DHSC has implemented a process to roll over prices to the following month for any concessions requested after the 23rd of the month provided these prices were agreed with us. We are also continuing to work with DHSC on how a ‘retrospective increased payment’ may apply, where appropriate. Further information regarding this concession ‘top-up’ mechanism will be issued once details are finalised.
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