Additions to Part 2
10 items have been added to Part 2 of the August Drug Tariff. The main one of interest is the Nexplanon implant, which has been added branded and generically (etonogestrel 68mg implant).
Items which fall into part 2 generally have no wholesaler discount and so you would be dispensing at a loss, therefore these are items which you may consider sending the prescription to a local pharmacy.
Additions to Part 8a
14 items have been added to Part 8a of the August Drug Tariff. Ones that I think you may find of interest are:
Amoxicillin 1g dispersible tablets sugar free, pack of 6 has gone into the Drug Tariff as a category C with the reimbursement based on Almus Pharmaceuticals Ltd.
Dulaglutide 3mg/0.5ml and 4.5mg/0.5ml solution for injection pre-filled disposable devices have both gone into the Drug Tariff as a category C with the reimbursement based on Trulicity.
Solifenacin 5mg/5ml oral solution sugar free, 150ml has gone into the Drug Tariff as a category A and the reimbursement price is £28.80. The lowest procurement price I can find is £24.20, however take care when purchasing as some wholesalers are selling the generic for more than the branded price.
Previously if any of the items above had been prescribed generically, you would have had to endorse the brand, manufacturer, pack size and price paid in the left-hand column. As the items are now in the Drug Tariff, no endorsement is required.
Additions to Part 16 – Notes on Charges
2 more items have been added to the list of contraceptive drugs to be dispensed free of charge, they are:
Gygel 2% contraceptive jelly
Nonoxinol-9 2% gel
Deletions to Part 8A
6 items have been removed from the August Drug Tariff, listed below are items which you may find of interest:
Aminophylline hydrate 225mg modified-release tablets, more commonly known as Phyllocontin Continus has been removed from the August Drug Tariff. This was discontinued in March 21. The 350MR is still listed in the Drug Tariff but that is being removed in September 21. All of the Phyllocontin have now been discontinued.
Paracetamol 120mg/5ml oral suspension paediatric 500ml has been removed from the August Drug Tariff – however the sugar free version is still listed as 100mls and 2000mls.
Sodium aurothiomalate 10mg/ 0.5ml solution for injection ampoules and the 50mg/0.5ml for injection ampoules have both been removed from the August Drug Tariff. This was more commonly known as Myocrisin. Both were discontinued in February 2021.
Items which have been removed from the Drug Tariff can still be prescribed and dispensed but you will need to endorse the prescription with manufacturer, pack size and price paid.
Other Changes to Part 8a
9 items are listed in ‘Other Changes’ – ones which I think you will find of interest are:
Bimatoprost 300micrograms/ml eye drops 0.4ml unit dose preservative free have moved from a category C to a category A and the reimbursement price has increased slightly and is currently sitting at £15.13. this can be purchased for just over £12.00 so making it a profitable item
Eprosartan 600mg tablets has moved from a category A to a category C and the reimbursement price has dropped to £14.31 and based on Teveten. The best profit margin with this one is to dispense a Parallel import. DDS have sourced a PI for £7.80.
Beclometasone 100micrograms/ dose / Formoterol 6micrograms/dose inhaler CFC free – this has remained as a Category C but they have removed the price basing information ie Fostair.