October 2023 Price Concessions 3rd 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 (27/10/2023) announced the following list of price concessions for October 2023:
Please note the following two lines have been revised upwards following mid-month price changes reported by pharmacy owners, the revised prices are reflected in the table below:
- Ropinirole 250microgram tablets
- Ropinirole 500microgram tablets
| Drug | Pack size | Price concession |
| Acamprosate 333mg gastro-resistant tablets | 168 | £22.60 |
| Amiloride 5mg tablets | 28 | £17.00 |
| Beclometasone 50micrograms/dose nasal spray | 200 | £2.60 |
| Brinzolamide 10mg/ml eye drops | 5 | £4.69 |
| Bumetanide 1mg tablets | 28 | £2.80 |
| Chlorphenamine 2mg/5ml oral solution sugar free | 150 | £7.63 |
| Clarithromycin 125mg/5ml oral suspension | 70 | £4.71 |
| Clotrimazole 500mg pessaries | 1 | £9.72 |
| Co-amilozide 5mg/50mg tablets | 28 | £11.21 |
| Frovatriptan 2.5mg tablets | 6 | £11.93 |
| Hydrocortisone 1% cream | 30 | £3.87 |
| Hydrocortisone 1% cream | 50 | £3.17 |
| Lamotrigine 50mg tablets | 56 | £4.35 |
| Lansoprazole 30mg orodispersible tablets | 28 | £5.10 |
| Lofepramine 70mg tablets | 56 | £14.49 |
| Mebeverine 200mg modified-release capsules | 60 | £5.50 |
| Mebeverine 50mg/5ml oral suspension sugar free | 300 | £214.96 |
| Mercaptopurine 50mg tablets | 25 | £8.95 |
| Methylphenidate 10mg tablets | 30 | £2.99 |
| Pregabalin 225mg capsules | 56 | £2.74 |
| Primidone 250mg tablets | 100 | £88.02 |
| Pyridostigmine bromide 60mg tablets | 200 | £24.69 |
| Rizatriptan 10mg orodispersible tablets sugar free | 3 | £9.12 |
| Ropinirole 250microgram tablets | 12 | £6.15 |
| Ropinirole 500microgram tablets | 28 | £13.41 |
| Solifenacin 5mg/5ml oral solution sugar free | 150 | £81.13 |
| Spironolactone 50mg tablets | 28 | £4.05 |
| Warfarin 3mg tablets | 28 | £0.88 |
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.
