The National Health Service Executive has issued the following statement concerning an error in the Drug Tariff.
"The Department of Health has confirmed that due to en error in a price file supplied by Smithkline Beecham to the Prescription Pricing Authority the wrong prices were shown in Part VIII of the Drug Tariff for February and March, 2000, for the following preparations: amoxycillin 250mg and 500mg injection; flucloxacillin 125mg/5ml and 250mg/5ml oral suspension; and paroxetine 20mg tablets. The preface to the April Tariff contains a retrospective determination for these preparations. Prescriptions from contractors in England and Wales will be priced according to the retrospective determination and not the prices shown in the February or March Tariff. SB apologises for the inconvenience its error may have caused."
The Journal understands that the prices listed in the February and March editions of the Tariff were higher than they should have been.