Drug Tariff Watch – February 2024

The Drug Tariff Preface published monthly lists additions, deletions and other changes to products listed in the Drug Tariff. Below is a summary of the changes coming into effect from 1 February 2024.

Key
g Special container – This product is a special container and should be dispensed in its complete original pack size.
n Item requiring reconstitution – This product requires reconstitution; pharmacy teams are advised to endorse the amount of packs supplied to enable the patient to complete the full course of medication prescribed.
§ Selected List Scheme (SLS) – see Part XVIIIB of the Drug Tariff
* This pack only (others already/still available)
BB Product is eligible for Broken Bulk claims where payment is made for a complete pack if a part-pack has been dispensed to match the prescribed quantity and it is unlikely that you will be able to dispense the balance within the following six months.
OOP Product eligible for Out Of Pocket expense claims (over £0.50) where in exceptional circumstances, pharmacy owners incur expenses in obtaining this product (which is not required to be frequently supplied by the pharmacy owner).
DND Product is not subject to discount deduction or ‘clawback’ as it meets either group or individual item criteria for DND (Discount Not Deducted) as set out in Part II of the Drug Tariff.
Part VIIIA Additions

Category C Additions:

  • Azelastine 210micrograms/dose nasal spray g (20ml) – Azelair OOP
  • *Diclofenac 140mg medicated plasters (5) – Voltarol  BB and OOP
  • Diphenhydramine 2% cream g (25g) – Histergan
  • Fludrocortisone 100micrograms/ml oral solution sugar free g (50ml) – Aristo Pharma Ltd OOP
  • Testosterone 40.5mg/2.5g transdermal gel unit dose sachets (30) – Testogel  BB and OOP
  • Valaciclovir 1g tablets (10) – Aristo Pharma Ltd  BB and OOP

Part VIIIA Amendments
 

  • Activated charcoal 81.3% granules sugar free g (50g) Category C – Carbomix now reads – Activated charcoal 81.3% granules for for gastoenteral or oral suspension sugar free OOP
    Price remains at £11.90
  • Diclofenac sodium 50mg gastro-resistant / Misoprostol 200microgram tablets (60) Category C reference product now reads – Arthrotec 50  BB and OOP
    Price remains at £11.98
  • Diclofenac sodium 75mg gastro-resistant / Misoprostol 200microgram tablets (60) Category C reference product now reads – Arthrotec 75  BB and OOP
    Price remains at £15.83
  • Fluconazole 150mg capsule and Clotrimazole 2% cream g (1) Category C – Canesten Oral & Cream Duo reference product now reads – Canesten Thrush Duo OOP
    Price remains at £10.23
  • Fluticasone furoate 27.5micrograms/dose nasal spray g (120 dose) Category C – Avamys refence product has been removed OOP
    Price remains at £6.44
  • Fosfomycin 3g granules sachets g (1) Category C – Monuril now reads Fosfomycin 3g granules for oral solution sachets OOP
    Price remains at £4.86
  • Naproxen 125mg/5ml oral suspension sugar free (100ml) Category A has now moved to Category C – Orion Pharma (UK) Ltd  BB, OOP and DND
    Price remains at £110.00
  • Potassium citrate 3g granules sachets sugar free (6) Category C – Cystopurin now reads Potassium citrate 3g granules for oral solution sachets sugar free  BB and OOP
    Price remains at £4.90
  • Raltegravir 100mg granules sachets (60) Category C – Isentress now reads Raltegravir 100mg granules for oral suspension sachets  BB and OOP
    Price remains at £213.02
  • Sodium citrate 4g oral granules sachets (6) Category C – Cystitis Relief now reads Sodium citrate 4g oral granules for oral solution sachets  BB and OOP
    Price remains at £2.87
  • Strontium ranelate 2g granules sachets sugar free (28) Category C – Aristo Pharma Ltd now reads Strontium ranelate 2g granules for oral suspension sachets sugar free  BB, OOP and DND
    Price remains at £149.91
  • Tacrolimus 1mg granules sachets sugar free (50) Category C – Modigraf now reads Tacrolimus 1mg granules for oral suspension sachets sugar free  BB, OOP and DND
    Price remains at £ 356.65
  • Tacrolimus 200microgram granules sachets sugar free (50) Category C – Modigraf now reads Tacrolimus 200microgram granules for oral suspension sachets sugar free  BB, OOP and DND
    Price remains at £ 71.30
  • Vigabatrin 500mg oral powder sachets sugar free (50) Category C – Sabril now reads Vigabatrin 500mg granules for oral suspension sachets sugar free  BB, OOP and DND
    Price remains at £24.60

Please note price listed here was correct at the time of publishing and is subject to change in line with the price change mechanism.

Part VIIIA Deletions
 
If all pack sizes of a drug have been removed from Part VIII of the Drug Tariff the drug can continue to be dispensed as long as it does NOT appear in Part XVIIIA (Drugs, Medicines and other substances not to be ordered under a General Medical Services Contract).

Category A Deletions:

  • Oxybutynin 3mg tablets (56)

Category C Deletions:

  • Chlorhexidine gluconate 0.015% / Cetrimide 0.15% solution 100ml sachets (10) – Sterets Tisept
  • *Diclofenac 140mg medicated plasters (2) – Voltarol

Part VIIIB Amendments

Previous Part VIIIB wording  Now reads 
Allopurinol 100mg/5ml oral solution STD, SF, AF (100ml) Allopurinol 100mg/5ml oral solution STD, SF, AF, PF (100ml)
Clomipramine 50mg/5ml oral suspension STD, SF,CF, NSF, AF (100ml) Clomipramine 50mg/5ml oral suspension STD, SF,CF, NSF, AF, FF (100ml)
Clopidogrel 25mg/5ml oral suspension STD, SF, AF, CF, LF, NSF (50ml) Clopidogrel 25mg/5ml oral suspension STD, SF, AF, CF, LF, NSF, FF, PF (50ml)
Hyoscine butylbromide 10mg/5ml oral solution STD, SF, AF, CF, FF, LF (100ml) Hyoscine butylbromide 10mg/5ml oral solution STD, SF, AF, CF, FF, LF, NSF, PF (100ml)
Zopiclone 3.75mg/5ml oral suspension STD, SF, LF, CF, NSF, AF
(100ml)
Zopiclone 3.75mg/5ml oral suspension STD, SF, LF, CF, NSF, AF, FF, PF
(100ml)

Part VIIID Additions

  • Clonidine 100micrograms/24hours transdermal patches STD (2)
  • Clonidine 100micrograms/24hours transdermal patches STD (4)
  • Clonidine 200micrograms/24hours transdermal patches STD (2)
  • Clonidine 200micrograms/24hours transdermal patches STD (4)
  • Prazosin 5mg tablets STD (100)

Part VIIID Deletions

  • Melatonin 1mg capsules STD, LF, SF (60)
  • Melatonin 10mg capsules STD, LF, SF (30)
  • Melatonin 10mg capsules STD, LF, SF (60)

Part II (Drugs for which discount is not deducted (DND)) Deletions

  • Eviplera 200mg/25mg/245mg tablets
  • Milrinone 10mg/10ml solution for infusion ampoules
  • Primacor 10mg/10ml solution for injection ampoules

Part VIC (Lateral flow device reimbursement price)

The payment for these tests, where supplied as part of the service in February 2024, will be £6.80 for 5 LFD tests. An allowance at the applicable VAT rate will also be paid.

Part XVI (List of medicines covered by the HRT PPC) Additions

Non-branded products not listed elsewhere in the table

  • Estriol 500microgram pessaries
  • Estriol 0.01% vaginal cream with applicator

Part XVI (List of medicines covered by the HRT PPC) Deletions

  • Estriol – Estriol 0.01% cream with applicator

Part XVI (List of medicines covered by the HRT PPC) Amendments

Previous Part XVI listing  Now reads 
Ovestin – Estriol 0.1% cream

Ovestin – Estriol 1mg/g vaginal cream

Note: Ovestin is no longer a branded
medicine and is now available as a
generic medicine. Remaining stocks of
Ovestin cream can still be supplied and
remain eligible for the HRT PPC.

Part IX Deletions

It is important to take careful note of removals from Part IX because if you dispense a deleted product, prescriptions will be returned as disallowed and therefore payment will not be made for dispensing the item.

The following appliances have been deleted from Part IX of the February 2024 Drug Tariff:

Product Additional information (size, product code etc)
APPLIANCES – CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES – Intrauterine Contraceptive Device – Multiload CU 375 1
APPLIANCES – DRESSINGS – WOUND MANAGEMENT DRESSINGS – Capillary Action Absorbent Wound Dressing – Askina Foam Cavity 2.4cm x 40cm
APPLIANCES – DRESSINGS – WOUND MANAGEMENT DRESSINGS – Polyurethane Foam Film Dressing – Sterile – Without Adhesive Border – Moderate to heavily exuding wounds – Askina Foam – Square 20cm x 20cm
APPLIANCES – DRESSINGS – WOUND MANAGEMENT DRESSINGS – Polyurethane Foam Film Dressing – Sterile – Without Adhesive Border – Moderate to heavily exuding wounds – Askina Foam – Rectangular 10cm x 20cm
APPLIANCES – DRESSINGS – WOUND MANAGEMENT DRESSINGS – Polyurethane Foam Film Dressing – Sterile – Without Adhesive Border – Moderate to heavily exuding wounds – Biatain Soft-Hold Dressing – Square 15cm x 15cm
APPLIANCES – DRESSINGS – WOUND MANAGEMENT DRESSINGS – Polyurethane Foam Film Dressing – Sterile – Without Adhesive Border – Moderate to heavily exuding wounds – Biatain Soft-Hold Dressing – Rectangular 10cm x 20cm
APPLIANCES – DRESSINGS – WOUND MANAGEMENT DRESSINGS – Protease Modulating Matrix – Sterile – Suprasorb C – Rectangular All types and sizes
APPLIANCES – DRESSINGS – WOUND MANAGEMENT DRESSINGS – With Silicone Adhesive Border – Mepilex Border Lite All types and sizes
APPLIANCES – EMOLLIENT AND BARRIER PREPARATIONS – Diprobase Lotion 300ml
APPLIANCES – EMOLLIENT AND BARRIER PREPARATIONS – Preparations for the treatment of Radiation Induced Dermatitis – R1 gel 30 x 6g
APPLIANCES – EMOLLIENT AND BARRIER PREPARATIONS – Preparations for the treatment of Radiation Induced Dermatitis – R2 lotion 168 x 1g
APPLIANCES – SURGICAL SUTURES – Absorbable Sutures – Ethicon Monocryl Poliglecaprone absorbable sutures composed of a copolymer of glycolide e-caprolactone All types and sizes
APPLIANCES – SURGICAL SUTURES – Absorbable Sutures – Ethicon PDS ll-polyester polydioxanone absorbable sutures W9873T, 24
APPLIANCES – SURGICAL SUTURES – Absorbable Sutures – Ethicon Vicryl-polyglactin 910 absorbable sutures composed of copolymer of glycolide and lactide All types and sizes
STOMA APPLIANCES – BAG COVERS – Vanilla Blush – Boxer – Mixed (1White, 1Black, 1Navy) – Small – XXX Large VBSSM1-VBSSM6, 3
STOMA APPLIANCES – BAG COVERS – Vanilla Blush – Ladies Brief – Mixed (1 White, 1 Black, 1 Navy) – Sizes 6-22 VBVM1-VBVM9, 3
STOMA APPLIANCES – COLOSTOMY BAGS – ConvaTec Ltd – Colodress Plus (Stomahesive Wafer) Closed Pouches – Mini All types and sizes
CHEMICAL REAGENTS – DETECTION STRIPS, BLOOD FOR GLUCOSE – Biosensor Strips – BGStar 50

To view appliances due to be deleted from Part IX of the March, April and May 2024 Drug Tariffs visit our page Drug Tariff Appliance Watch: Notice of Deletion

To view the latest changes to special container status, visit our page Notice of changes to special container status of products page.

To view all the monthly changes to the DND status of products, visit our page Notice of changes to discount not deducted (DND) status of products.

To view previous Drug Tariff Watch months visit our page here.