October 2023 Price Concessions – Final 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 (31/10/2023) announced the following final list of price concessions for October 2023:
| Drug | Pack size | Price concession |
| Atomoxetine 10mg capsules | 28 | £45.59 |
| Amisulpride 200mg tablets | 60 | £31.19 |
| Betahistine 16mg tablets | 84 | £9.55 |
| Betahistine 8mg tablets | 84 | £3.45 |
| Betamethasone valerate 0.1% cream | 100 | £4.62 |
| Bimatoprost 300micrograms/ml / Timolol 5mg/ml eye drops | 3 | £4.27 |
| Carbocisteine 375mg capsules | 120 | £7.68 |
| Carbomer ‘980’ 0.2% eye drops | 10 | £4.05 |
| Cyclizine 50mg/1ml solution for injection ampoules | 5 | £5.72 |
| Dexamfetamine 5mg tablets | 28 | £22.87 |
| Dorzolamide 20mg/ml / Timolol 5mg/ml eye drops 0.2ml unit dose preservative free | 60 | £19.05 |
| Duloxetine 20mg gastro-resistant capsules | 28 | £9.45 |
| Etoricoxib 30mg tablets | 28 | £1.79 |
| Etoricoxib 90mg tablets | 28 | £2.14 |
| Fludrocortisone 100microgram tablets | 30 | £5.85 |
| Itraconazole 100mg capsules | 15 | £9.85 |
| Ketoconazole 2% shampoo | 120 | £19.40 |
| Lamotrigine 100mg tablets | 56 | £4.77 |
| Lamotrigine 200mg tablets | 56 | £5.89 |
| Lamotrigine 25mg tablets | 56 | £2.83 |
| Letrozole 2.5mg tablets | 14 | £3.26 |
| Lorazepam 500microgram tablets | 28 | £27.17 |
| Memantine 10mg/ml oral solution sugar free | 50 | £5.49 |
| Metformin 500mg/5ml oral solution sugar free | 150 | £27.51 |
| Midazolam 10mg/2ml solution for injection ampoules | 10 | £5.18 |
| Morphine sulfate 10mg/1ml solution for injection ampoules | 10 | £5.02 |
| Morphine sulfate 10mg/5ml oral solution | 300 | £5.45 |
| Pantoprazole 40mg gastro-resistant tablets | 28 | £3.62 |
| Paracetamol 250mg/5ml oral suspension sugar free | 200 | £7.44 |
| Paracetamol 500mg effervescent tablets | 100 | £7.78 |
| Permethrin 5% cream | 30 | £11.50 |
| Quetiapine 25mg tablets | 60 | £1.38 |
| Riluzole 50mg tablets | 56 | £9.00 |
| Ropinirole 2mg tablets | 28 | £18.85 |
| Rosuvastatin 5mg tablets | 28 | £1.25 |
| Sodium chloride 0.9% nebuliser liquid 2.5ml unit dose ampoules | 20 | £12.25 |
| Tacrolimus 0.1% ointment | 30 | £20.17 |
| Tacrolimus 0.1% ointment | 60 | £37.57 |
| Timolol 0.5% eye drops | 5 | £2.00 |
| Zonisamide 100mg capsules | 56 | £21.95 |
For the full list of price concessions granted 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.
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.
