Each week, the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee is releasing a list of changes to the Drug Tariff for England and Wales not included in the printed version. Additions since last week are shown in bold type.
England and Wales Changes for the September tariff — The following products will move from Category D to category A: aspirin 300mg e/c tablets (100); beclomethasone 50mg nasal spray (200 dose); clomipramine 25mg capsules (100); diltiazem hydrochloride 60mg m/r tablets (100); ichthammol ointment (500g); nifedipine 10mg capsules (100); oxazepam 15mg tablets (100); tamoxifen 20mg tablets (30); and zinc oxide compound paste (500).
Items that will be treated as category D on prescriptions dispensed during September are: bumetanide 5mg tablets (28); calcium gluconate 1g effervescent tablets (100); diamorphine 10mg injection (5), 30mg injection (5); metformin 850mg tablets (56 and 300); nicotinic acid 50mg tablets (84); salbutamol 2mg tablets (500), 4mg tablets (500). Nicotinic acid tablets will be deleted from the Tariff in October. Prescriptions need to be endorsed with both the manufacturer and the supplier of Category D products if correct reimbursement is to be received.
National Pharmaceutical Association members can find details of Drug Tariff changes on the members-only section of the NPA website (www.npa.co.uk).
Scotland The scheme for notifying changes to the Scottish Drug Tariff has been changed following an agreement between the Scottish Pharmaceutical General Council and the Scottish Executive’s health department (PJ, August 7, p188). In addition, endorsements on prescriptions for the following items will be accepted: allopurinol 300mg tablets (28 and 100); ascorbic acid 500mg tablets; aspirin 75mg dispersible tablets; bendrofluazide 2.5mg and 5mg tablets; chlorpheniramine 4mg tablets; cinnarizine 15mg tablets; co-dydramol 500/10 tablets; co-tenidone 100/25 tablets; ferrous sulphate 200mg tablets; glipizide 5mg tablets; ibuprofen 600mg tablets; indapamide 2.5mg tablets; indomethacin 50mg capsules; mefenamic acid 250mg capsules; metformin 500mg tablets; metronidazole 400mg tablets; minocycline 50mg tablets; oxprenolol 20mg and 40mg tablets; penicillamine 125mg and 250mg tablets; and propranolol 10mg and 40mg tablets.
Further information is available on the internet at www.spgc.org.uk.