February 2024 Price Concessions 1st Update
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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.
