Prices for next set of Category H products published in the September 2026 Drug Tariff
The reimbursement prices for the next set of multi-source products moving from Category C to Category H have been published in the September 2026 Drug Tariff. The Department of Health and Social Care previously announced that 8 products would move from Category C to Category H in September 2026. Prices for 4 products have increased while 4 products have decreased compared to their previous Category C prices.
Felodipine 2.5mg modified-release tablets (28) has the largest price decrease (reduced by £1.42), whereas Nicotine 7mg/24hours transdermal patches (7) has the largest price increase (increased by £3.46) compared to their previous prices.
The prices for the first 11 products moved to Category H in March 2026 have also been updated in the September Drug Tariff. 10 of the 11 products have seen a price increase compared to their previous prices published in the June 2026 Drug Tariff. Notably, Ursodeoxycholic acid 500mg tablets (100) has the largest price increase (increased by £14.39).
The table below outlines the Category H reimbursement prices for the 8 products moved to Category H from September 2026:
| Product | New Category H price (September 2026) | Previous Category C price (based on) | Price increase or decrease |
| Alfuzosin 10mg modified-release tablets (30) | £14.83 | £12.51 | ↑ £2.32 |
| Diclofenac 100mg suppositories (10) | £2.73 | £3.64 (Voltarol®) |
↓ £0.91 |
| Felodipine 10mg modified-release tablets (28) | £3.61 | £4.81 (Cardioplen® XL) |
↓ £1.20 |
| Felodipine 2.5mg modified-release tablets (28) | £4.26 | £5.68 (Cardioplen® XL) |
↓ £1.42 |
| Felodipine 5mg modified-release tablets (28) | £2.90 | £3.87 (Cardioplen® XL) |
↓ £0.97 |
| Fluticasone furoate 27.5micrograms/dose nasal spray (120 doses) | £7.98 | £6.44 | ↑ £1.54 |
| Nicotine 7mg/24hours transdermal patches (7) | £13.95 | £10.49 (Nicotinell® TTS 10) |
↑ £3.46 |
| Sodium fluoride 0.05% mouthwash sugar free (250ml) | £2.66 | £2.13 (Endekay®) |
↑ £0.53 |
Category H prices will be updated on a quarterly cycle with the next change in December 2026. Currently, over 100 products in Category C appear to meet DHSC’s entry criteria for Category H, and we understand it is DHSC’s ambition to continue moving eligible products from Category C to Category H in a phased approach over the subsequent quarters. Community Pharmacy England will monitor the impact of these changes and continue to raise any concerns with the DHSC about products that are not appropriate or suitable for entry to Category H.
We encourage pharmacy teams to report any Category H products unavailable to purchase at or below the stated Drug Tariff price, using our online feedback form on the Community Pharmacy England’s Price Concessions webpage. Community Pharmacy England will investigate these reports and request the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) to grant any price concessions, if required.
Background
In December 2025, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) announced that it will be introducing Category H to Part VIIIA of the Drug Tariff from March 2026. Certain products available from multiple suppliers in Category C will begin to move to Category H in a phased approach. DHSC will set reimbursement prices for multi-source products in Category H using sales data from suppliers obtained under the Health Service Products (Provision and Disclosure of Information) Regulations 2018. DHSC aims to set reimbursement prices this way to better reflect the actual purchase prices of these products and to support fairer distribution of medicine margin.
This change, being imposed by DHSC, forms part of a series of community pharmacy drug reimbursement reforms following a public consultation in 2019. Additionally, this was one of the actions outlined in the Community Pharmacy Contractual Framework (CPCF) 2025/26 funding settlement to support medicine margin arrangements.
Community Pharmacy England has objected to the introduction of the changes at this time because of the wider challenges pharmacies are facing and the risk that further changes could disrupt the already turbulent medicines supply chain.
Category H Resources
List of products moving from Category C to Category H in March 2026
