Drug Tariff News

6th July 2022 - Source: Amanda Chell

Additions to Part 2

Only 4 items have been added to Part 2 of the June Drug Tariff and those items are:

• Mexiletine 100mg capsules
• Mexiletine 50mg capsules
• Ogluo solution for injection pre-filled pens (ALL)
• Sucralfate 1g/5ml oral suspension sugar free

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

Only 8 items have been added to Part 8a of the June Drug Tariff, these items are:

• Atorvastatin 20mg/5ml oral suspension sugar free has been added as a Category C with the reimbursement price based on Rosemont Pharmaceuticals Ltd at £198.76
• Hydrocortisone 15mg, 2.5mg and 5mg tablets have all gone into the June tariff as Category A items. Obviously now generically available, these are showing health profit margins – for example the 2.5mg has a reimbursement price of £56.03 but can be purchased for as little as £14.55.
• Sertraline 25mg tablets have gone into the Drug Tariff as a Category A item. As you are all aware 50mg and 100mg have been in the tariff for a number of years as a Category M item. Sertraline 25mg has a reimbursement price of £14.50 but can be purchased as little as £10.95

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.

Deletions to Part 8a

9 items have been deleted from the June Drug Tariff- items which you may find of interest are listed below:

Hypromellose 0.3% eye drops has been removed from the June Drug Tariff. Although there does appear to be some stocks still available most manufacturers are showing as discontinued on Dictionary of Medicines and Devices.

Levofloxacin 250mg tablets, pack size 5 has been removed from the June Drug Tariff however pack size of 10 is still listed.

White soft paraffin 95% / Liquid paraffin 5% ointment 50g and 500g has been removed from the Drug Tariff – this was more commonly known as Diprobase.

As a FYI, Diprobase lotion has been removed from Part 9 – items which fall into Part 9 are classed as an appliance and have to be in the Drug Tariff to be prescribed.

Items which have been removed from the Drug Tariff part 8A 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

13 items are listed in ‘Other Changes, ones which I think you will find of interest are:

Calcipotriol 0.005% / Betamethasone dipropionate 0.05% gel, has moved from a Category C with the reimbursement price based on Dovobet at £37.21 to a Category A and the reimbursement price has dropped slightly to £36.28. Please note this is on the 60g pack, the 30g pack has been sitting as a Category M for some time now.

Hydrocortisone 2.5% ointment, 15g has moved from a Category A with the reimbursement price of £24.46 to a Category C with the reimbursement price based on Essential Generics at £44.00.

Co-codamol 15mg/500mg capsules, pack size 100 has moved from a Category A item with a reimbursement price of £10.71 to a Category C item with the reimbursement price based on Codipar at £7.25. (Codipar is solus with Alliance and has a 27% Manufacturer Discount Scheme)