Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has increased the rate of discount deduction for generics from 17.52 per cent to 20 per cent.
The Drug Tariff for April 2023 will contain changes to the discount deduction arrangements for pharmacy contractors, which will include- all concession lines to be
considered as Group Items for Discount Not Deducted i.e. DND or zero discount (ZD) items; and rate of discount deduction for generics to increase from 17.52% to 20%
The Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee (PSNC) and DHSC agreed on the changes for all concession lines to be considered as Group Items for Discount Not
Deducted. Therefore from 1 April 2023, a new category will be introduced into Part II of the Drug Tariff 'Drugs for which discount is not deducted'.
However, the committee had rejected the changes in the rate of discount deduction for generics. It said, "Following pressure from NHS England, Ministers have now
chosen to impose changes to the previously agreed discount deduction arrangements, which come into effect from 1 April, and will be kept under review."
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has issued a further five new Serious Shortage Protocols (SSPs) for Phenoxymethylpenicillin (Pen V) to enable
the continued supply of antibiotics to patients.
"The new SSPs, introduced with immediate effect, allow community pharmacists to consider different oral antibiotic preparations, to enable the continued supply of
antibiotics to patients and mitigate the ongoing supply disruptions affecting Phenoxymethylpenicillin," said DHSC.
On Friday (16 December) SSP043-SSP047 has been authorised by the Secretary of State to provide pharmacists with procedures to follow in providing suitable alternative
oral antibiotics to substitute Phenoxymethylpenicillin.
"For each SSP, DHSC has included specific patient counselling points which must be taken into account when deciding whether supply in accordance with an SSP is
suitable for a patient."
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has issued a medicine supply notification for Sulfasalazine 250mg in 5ml oral suspension sugar free;
Pilocarpine hydrochloride 4% eye drops; Fluticasone 50microgram / Salmeterol 25microgam (Combisal) pressurised metered dose inhaler (pMDI); and Dalteparin (Fragmin)
10,000units/1mL solution for injection ampoule on Wednesday (21 December).
"Sulfasalazine 250mg/5ml oral suspension sugar free is out of stock from w/c 19th December until early June 2023. Sulfasalazine 500mg non-enteric coated tablets
remain available
"IPS Pharma, Nova Labs, and Rokshaw have currently confirmed they can manufacturer sulfasalazine 250mg/5ml oral suspension," said DHSC.
Pilocarpine 4% eye drops are out of stock until w/c 26th December 2022. Alternative strengths of pilocarpine (1% and 2%) eye drops remain available and will be
able to support increased demand. Specials of pilocarpine 4% preservative free eye drops are available if the licensed alternatives are not suitable. For off-label
use of the 4% drops in the treatment of xerostomia (dry mouth) in palliative care, pilocarpine 5mg tablets are available and are licensed for this indication.
The Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) and the Pharmacists' Defence Association (PDA) have responded to the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC)
consultation on pharmacy supervision, which was launched in early December last year.
The DSHC set out proposals to amend the Medicines Act 1968 and The Human Medicines Regulations 2012 to allow registered pharmacy technicians to work without
direct supervision, which in turn will help free up pharmacists to provide more clinical care and reduce GP appointments.
While the RPS supported the legislative change, it highlighted a range of topics that should be considered and clarified in regulations and guidance.
According to RPS, the new concept of 'authorisation', including around documentation, accountability, and the role of superintendent pharmacist and responsible
pharmacist, needs clarification.
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has announced adjustments to the reimbursement rates for several Aptamil products dispensed earlier this
year, following a pricing error that left pharmacies out of pocket.
The changes, which apply to products dispensed between January and April 2024, come after Community Pharmacy England (CPE) raised concerns about discrepancies
in the pricing data used by the NHS.
The issue stemmed from recent price increases by Nutricia Ltd, the manufacturer of Aptamil, which were not reflected in the NHS Dictionary of Medicines and
Devices (dm+d).
To address the shortfall, the DHSC has retrospectively increased the reimbursement prices for the following Aptamil products:
- Aptamil Anti-Reflux powder (800g): From £14.29 to £16.08
- Aptamil Comfort milk (800g): From £14.29 to £16.08
- Aptamil First milk powder (200ml): From £0.92 to £1.06
- Aptamil Follow On milk (200ml): From £0.92 to £1.06
- Aptamil Lactose Free powder (400g): From £7.70 to £8.39
These changes, effective from January 2024, are intended to ensure that pharmacies are appropriately reimbursed for the cost of these products.
At the Future of Britain Conference 2024, the newly appointed Secretary of Health and Social Care, (DHSC) Wes Streeting, stated that "Labour's DNA is in
the NHS".
He also called for a long-term approach to reform the broken health sector and the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) to steer the healthcare system
towards sustainability and growth.
Hosted by Tony Blair Institute for Global Change and My Life My Say today, Tuesday, 9, Streeting discussed the plans to fix the healthcare system and role of
Artificial Intelligence (AI) in "making the right choices" by bringing in three essential shifts in the healthcare.
Criticising the previous Conservative administration for leaving "massive burning deck issues" due to constant reshuffling within the Department of Health and
Social Care (DHSC), Streeting lamented that this "instability" and "indecisions" have made comprehensive reform even more pressing.
Drawing inspiration from Chancellor Rachel Reeves' speech on economic growth, Streeting stressed the interconnectedness of health and economic prosperity.
The Department of Health and Social Care's (DHSC) response to the 2019 consultation on community pharmacy drug reimbursement reform has paved the way for the second phase of consultation with the pharmacy negotiator.
The second round of the consultation will focus on eight proposals:
Changes to the way Category A prices are set
Changes to how medicine margin is distributed in Category M drugs
Changes to how Category C prices are set for drugs with multiple suppliers
Inclusion of non-medicinal products in the Drug Tariff
Changes to the way prices of drugs in non-Part VIIIA are set
Changes to arrangements for reimbursement and procurement of 'specials'
Changes to reimbursement of generically prescribed drugs and appliances dispensed as 'specials'
Changes to the discount deduction scale
The Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee has been discussing these proposals with the DHSC and the outcome was featured in the final package of the
'Community pharmacy in 2016/17 and beyond' document.
The regulators have added 10 new products to the 'Drugs for which Discount is Not Deducted' (DND) list from Thursday (01 June).
Community Pharmacy England on behalf of its members had made further applications to the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and the NHS Business Services
Authority (NHSBSA), resulting in the inclusion of 10 new products in the DND.
More than 610 products are granted DND status following checks made by Community Pharmacy England's dispensing & supply team over the past 3 years to ensure fair
reimbursement for our members.
The DND list is updated monthly by the DHSC and includes grouped and individual items. Individual items are separately listed in Part II of the Drug Tariff. Any
items covered by the 'Group Items' heading are not listed again individually in Part II.
"We will continue our work to assess whether other drugs and appliances fulfil the current DND entry requirements under either the 'Group' and 'Individual item'
criteria and make applications to NHSBSA and DHSC, on behalf of our members accordingly," said Community Pharmacy England.
The Community Pharmacist Consultation Service (CPCS) will be expanded to enable urgent and emergency care settings to refer patients to a community pharmacist
for a consultation for minor illness or urgent medicine supply from Monday (15 May), the DHSC and NHSE said.
The service builds on the progress made in GP referrals via the CPCS and hospital referrals under the Discharge Medicine Service. It was originally planned to launch
in March, and fee for this service will be the existing CPCS fee of £14, as per the agreement for both year 4 and year 5 of the Community Pharmacy Contractual
Framework (CPCF) 2019 to 2024 5-year deal.
In an update on the CPCF, published today (12 May), the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and NHS England (NHSE) has also committed to the 4 October 2023
launch date for the Tier 2 of the Pharmacy Contraception Service, subject to a positive evaluation of the pilot.
The Tier 1 of the service was launched on 24 April, delayed by over three months. This new service enables community pharmacists to provide ongoing management, via
a patient group direction (PGD), of routine oral contraception that was initiated in general practice or by a sexual health clinic. The fees for this service are as
follows: a fee for each consultation of £18; and a set-up fee of £900, paid in instalments.
The Tier 2 will "enable community pharmacists to also initiate oral contraception, via a PGD, and provide ongoing clinical checks and annual reviews," Alette Addison,
deputy director for pharmacy, dental and optical at the DHSC and Ali Sparke, director for dentistry, community pharmacy and optometry at the NHSE, said in a letter.
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has created a new NIHR Research Delivery Network (RDN) to support the successful delivery of health and
social care research in England.
The network, which will start operating from next year, will play a critical and active role in implementing government policies.
It will support in implementing the Life Sciences Vision, the Future of UK Clinical Research Delivery vision, and policy for life sciences research and development.
The new network would be mainly working on growing the amount of commercial clinical research as its key strategic ambition.
Also, NIHR RDN will be responding to the findings of the Lord O'Shaughnessy review, which set out a clear blueprint for how the UK can return to its global
leadership role.
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), NHS England and the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) have reached an agreement
on the 2024 voluntary scheme for branded medicines pricing, access and growth (VPAG).
The landmark deal will save the NHS £14 billion over 5 years in medicines costs, boost the nation's health, and support research investment.
The new VPAG scheme, which will be a non-contractual voluntary agreement between DHSC and ABPI, will run for 5 years from 1 January 2024 until 31 December 2028.
It will double the annual allowed growth of sales of branded medicines from two per cent per year in 2024 to four per cent per year by 2027.
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has published the full text of the 2024 voluntary scheme for branded medicines pricing, access and growth (VPAG).
The 2024 VPAG agreement text sets out the detailed terms of the agreement reached between DHSC, NHS England and the Association of the British Pharmaceutical
Industry (ABPI) to support patient access to medicines, the financial sustainability of the NHS and the UK life sciences sector.
The new voluntary scheme will come into force on 1 January 2024, following expiry of the 2019 Voluntary Scheme and shall remain in force for a period of five years,
until 31 December 2028.
Manufacturers or suppliers of branded medicines to the NHS have been given time till 15 January 2024 to decide whether to join the new 2024 Voluntary Scheme, or
default to the updated Statutory Scheme.
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has allowed pharmacists to supply alternative penicillin to treat Strep A. It has issued Serious Shortage
Protocols (SSPs) for three penicillin medicines.
"The SSPs will help mitigate local supply issues of oral penicillin and allow pharmacists to supply alternative forms of the medicine if they do not have the
specific formulation stated on the prescription," said DHSC.
SSPs have been issued across the UK for 3 penicillin medicines on Thursday (December 15.
"Issuing an SSP allows pharmacists to legally supply a specified alternative medicine, removing the need for the patient to return to the prescriber - which saves
time in GP practices and inconvenience for patients."
"Demand for penicillin has risen recently as it is used to treat strep A and scarlet fever, and the increased demand means that some pharmacists are experiencing
temporary and localised supply issues and may not have the specific formulation listed on the prescription."
FreeStyle Libre 3 Sensors and Budesonide 500microgram orodispersible tablets sugar free have been included in the Drugs for which Discount is Not
Deducted (DND) list (Part II of the Drug Tariff) from January 2024, according to Community Pharmacy England (CPE).
Following applications made by CPE on behalf of pharmacy contractors, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) agreed to give DND status to these
products to ensure that "pharmacies are not faced with dispensing these sensors at a loss."
Updated monthly by the DHSC, Part II of the Drug Tariff includes grouped and individual items.
Recently launched by Abbott Diabetes Care Ltd, FreeStyle Libre 3 Sensors have also been added to the Appliances section in Part IXA of the January 2024 Drug Tariff.
As the sensors can only be ordered by pharmacies directly from the manufacturer without any discount, CPE requested the DHSC to exempt this appliance from any
discount deduction.
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) will introduce new arrangements for the setting of Drug Tariff Category A reimbursement prices from April 2024.
Driven by ministers, DHSC's decision aims to equalise access to margin on Category A medicines and it's part of a series of drug reimbursement reforms proposed by
the department following a public consultation in 2019.
Currently, prices of medicines in Category A are subject to monthly adjustment. From 1 April 2024, these will be updated quarterly based on sales and volume data
obtained by DHSC under the Health Service Products (Provision and Disclosure of Information) Regulations 2018. The transition will conclude in July 2025 when the reimbursement prices will be exclusively determined by the new method.
Advance notice for contractors regarding the 'new arrangements' has been outlined on the NHSBSA website.
However, Community Pharmacy England (CPE) did not support the introduction of the changes at this time as pharmacies are currently grappling with "wider challenges"
and there is uncertainty about the potential impact of these changes on the already "turbulent" medicines supply chain
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has issued a Serious Shortage Protocol (SSP) for Salazopyrin EN-Tabs 500 mg due to ongoing shortage of the medicine.
With SSP014 in place from today (November 26), for every prescription one Sulfasalazine 500mg gastro-resistant (GR) tablet will be supplied.
This SSP will expire on December 20, 2021, and PSNC will update contractors in case of any change.
PSNC has advised pharmacists to notify the patient's prescriber while supplying in accordance with this SSP.
Besides, the supervising pharmacist should refer back to the prescriber if a non-chewable atorvastatin tablet would not be appropriate for the patient.
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has issued Serious Shortage Protocols (SSPs) on three HRT medicines to limit dispensing supply to three months.
To ensure women across the UK will be able to more reliably access HRT products SSPs has been issued on the supply of Oestrogel, Ovestin cream and Premique Low Dose.
DHSC stated, "Women who have a prescription for more than three months but are only able to access three months' supply will not have to pay an additional
prescription charge."
"This means women will not incur any additional costs. Imposing a three month limit will mean more women are able to access the medication they want. Any woman
who is worried about access to HRT or is unable to access HRT should speak to her GP."
Recently, Vaccine Taskforce Director General Madelaine McTernan has been appointed to spearhead a new HRT Supply Taskforce, applying lessons learned from the
successful procurement seen during the Covid vaccination programme to identify ways to support the HRT supply chain ensuring it can meet both short and long
term demand. The move will save time for patients as well as pharmacists and prescribers who are working tirelessly to tackle the covid backlog.
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has added further 28 new products to the list of 'Drugs for which Discount is Not Deducted' (DND) in Part II
of the Drug Tariff from 1 August 2022.
PSNC said, "It will continue its work to assess whether other drugs and appliances fulfil the current DND entry requirements under either the 'Group' and 'Individual
item' criteria and make applications to NHSBSA and DHSC, accordingly."
A total of 529 products have been granted DND status following checks made by PSNC within the past 26 months.
Pharmacy bodies have welcomed the new minister in charge of the profession amid warnings that he will find the sector in a state that is "more fragile that
ever" due to "untenable funding and workforce pressures".
Neil O'Brien was re-appointed as parliamentary under secretary of state in the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) on October 25 and was later assigned the
pharmacy brief.
The Conservative MP for Harborough - who will have a wide-ranging portfolio of responsibilities, including primary care and pharmacy - has taken over the position
from Will Quince MP, who had a brief stint as pharmacy minister but remains at the department on a different role.
O'Brien was was handed a junior minister's job at DHSC on 7 September 2022 in the government led by Liz Truss but fellow Conservative Quince was assigned primary
care duties including pharmacy.
Welcoming him to his new role, The Company Chemists' Association said that the minister would find that the community pharmacy sector was "more fragile than ever"
with untenable pressures over funding and workforce.
Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has issued a medicine supply notification for Oxcarbazepine (Trileptal) 300mg and 600mg tablets on
Wednesday (14 June).
It has notified that the Oxcarbazepine (Trileptal) 300mg tablets will be out of stock from late June 2023 until mid-July 2023 and Oxcarbazepine (Trileptal) 600mg
tablets are out of stock until mid-July 2023.
However, generic oxcarbazepine 300mg and 600mg tablets remain available and will be able to support increased demand.
"Oxcarbazepine (Trileptal) 150mg tablets and generic oxcarbazepine 150mg tablets remain available but cannot support the increase in demand," said DHSC.
"Oxcarbazepine (Trileptal) 60mg/ml oral suspension remains available but cannot meet an increase in demand."