Because of shortages of generic medicines, the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee and the Scottish Pharmaceutical General Council are releasing lists of medicines for which contractors' endorsements of manufacturer and pack size will be accepted by the Prescription Pricing Authority and the Prescription Pricing Division.
The lists for prescriptions dispensed during December are given below. Additions to the list are shown in bold/italic type.
England and Wales Aciclovir 800mg tablets (35 pack); ampicillin 125mg/5ml suspension (100ml); digoxin 125mg tablets (28); methyldopa 500mg tablets (56); and oxazepam 10mg tablets (100).
Note: Aciclovir 800mg tablets are to be deleted from the Tariff in January, 2000.
National Pharmaceutical Association members can find details of Drug Tariff changes in the members-only section of the NPA website (www.npa.co.uk).
Scotland Aluminium hydroxide 500mg tablets; amoxycillin 3g sugar-free sachets; ascorbic acid 500mg tablets; bendrofluazide 2.5mg tablets; co-trimoxazole 160/800 tablets; digoxin 125mg tablets; doxycycline 50mg and 100mg capsules; indomethacin 25mg capsules; imipramine 25mg tablets; isosorbide dinitrate 10mg and 20mg tablets; metformin 500mg and 850mg tablets; minocycline 50mg tablets; oxprenolol 20mg and 40mg tablets; penicillamine 250mg tablets; sulphasalazine 500mg tablets; thioridazine 25mg tablets; trifluoperazine 5mg tablets; trimethoprim 200mg tablets; verapamil 40mg tablets; and vitamin B compound strong tablets BPC.
Further information and updates are available on the internet at www.spgc.org.uk.