Retrospective reimbursement price adjustments
Following representations made by Community Pharmacy England on behalf of community pharmacy owners, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has retrospectively adjusted the reimbursement prices of certain products dispensed in October and November 2024.
Under the current price change mechanism, pharmacy owners would have to wait one (or in some cases two months) before any NHS list prices changes are applied to reimbursement of branded products. The delays in reimbursement prices catching up with any NHS list price increases can lead to dispensing at a loss by pharmacies. The impact is more significant for products with large list price increases and for high volume lines.
To avoid pharmacy owners dispensing these products at a loss, DHSC has agreed to grant retrospective price adjustments for the following products prescribed by brand or generically.
| Generic name | Brand name | Pack size | Previous NHS list price | Retrospectively adjusted reimbursement price | Month for which price adjustment will apply |
| Generic Maxijul Super Soluble powder | Maxijul Super Soluble powder | 25000g | £221.98 | £234.85 | October 2024 |
| Generic Phlexy-Vits powder 7g sachets | Phlexy-Vits powder 7g sachets | 30 | £98.10 | £103.50 | October 2024 |
| Lithium carbonate 200mg modified-release tablets | Priadel 200mg modified-release tablets | 100 | £12.46 | £16.42 | October 2024 |
| Lithium carbonate 400mg modified-release tablets | Priadel 400mg modified-release tablets | 100 | £14.12 | £18.60 | October 2024 |
| Alprostadil 10microgram powder and solvent for solution for injection cartridges with device | Viridal Duo Starter Pack 10microgram powder and solvent for solution for injection cartridges with device | 2 | £20.13 | £35.55 | November 2024 |
| Alprostadil 20microgram powder and solvent for solution for injection cartridges with device | Viridal Duo Starter Pack 20microgram powder and solvent for solution for injection cartridges with device | 2 | £24.54 | £35.55 | November 2024 |
| Alprostadil 40microgram powder and solvent for solution for injection cartridges with device | Viridal Duo Starter Pack 40microgram powder and solvent for solution for injection cartridges with device | 2 | £29.83 | £35.55 | November 2024 |
Pricing adjustments for the above products are planned to be included in the January 2025 Schedule of Payments (with a payment date of 1st April 2025). The payments will appear as ‘Adjustment drugs‘ and ‘Adjustment fees’ (if applicable). The adjustments for products listed above will be shown as a combined total.
Community Pharmacy England is awaiting responses from DHSC to other price adjustment requests submitted for several other products affected by NHS list price increases between October 2024 and February 2025. We will also be seeking a change to the current price change timetable for branded products so that there is no extra months’ delay in applying any new list prices changes to reimbursement.
