October 2023 Price Concessions 2nd 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 (19/10/2023) announced the following list of price concessions for October 2023:
Please note the following line has been revised upwards on the 27th October 2023 following mid-month price changes reported by pharmacy owners, the revised price is reflected in the table below:
- Ropinirole 500microgram tablets
| Drug | Pack Size | Price Concession |
| Aciclovir 800mg tablets | 35 | £3.60 |
| Atorvastatin 80mg tablets | 28 | £5.22 |
| Benzoyl peroxide 5% / Clindamycin 1% gel | 30 | £11.99 |
| Bimatoprost 100micrograms/ml eye drops | 3 | £4.18 |
| Brinzolamide 10mg/ml / Timolol 5mg/ml eye drops | 5 | £10.01 |
| Calcipotriol 0.005% / Betamethasone dipropionate 0.05% ointment | 30 | £9.52 |
| Carvedilol 6.25mg tablets | 28 | £1.29 |
| Clarithromycin 250mg/5ml oral suspension | 70 | £6.22 |
| Clotrimazole 1% cream | 20 | £1.93 |
| Co-codamol 30mg/500mg capsules | 100 | £4.71 |
| Codeine 30mg tablets | 28 | £1.08 |
| Codeine 30mg tablets | 100 | £3.86 |
| Docusate 50mg/5ml oral solution sugar free | 300 | £18.32 |
| Dorzolamide 20mg/ml / Timolol 5mg/ml eye drops | 5 | £4.15 |
| Estradiol 10microgram pessaries | 24 | £9.18 |
| Ezetimibe 10mg tablets | 28 | £1.65 |
| Hydrocortisone 1% cream | 15 | £2.52 |
| Hydroxocobalamin 1mg/1ml solution for injection ampoules | 5 | £11.33 |
| Lansoprazole 15mg orodispersible tablets | 28 | £2.95 |
| Latanoprost 50micrograms/ml / Timolol 5mg/ml eye drops | 2.5 | £3.67 |
| Ondansetron 4mg tablets | 10 | £7.09 |
| Prochlorperazine 3mg buccal tablets | 50 | £7.68 |
| Prochlorperazine 5mg tablets | 28 | £1.80 |
| Promethazine hydrochloride 10mg tablets | 56 | £18.10 |
| Ropinirole 500microgram tablets | 28 | |
| Telmisartan 20mg tablets | 28 | £3.75 |
| Terbinafine 1% cream | 30 | £6.59 |
| Terbinafine 1% cream | 15 | £2.98 |
| Timolol 0.25% eye drops | 5 | £2.04 |
| Warfarin 5mg tablets | 28 | £1.54 |
| Zolmitriptan 2.5mg tablets | 6 | £16.45 |
| Zolmitriptan 2.5mg tablets | 12 | £32.90 |
| Zopiclone 3.75mg tablets | 28 | £1.59 |
| Zopiclone 7.5mg tablets | 28 | £1.50 |
For the full list of price concessions granted so far for October 2023, please visit our webpage: cpe.org.uk/priceconcessions
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. We are still working with the DHSC to agree concessionary prices for other drugs reported to be unavailable at the stated October Drug Tariff price. Please note that we cannot provide details of any generic products awaiting price concession approval from 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.
