The Pharmaceutical Journal Vol 267 No 7168 p451-455
6 October 2001

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Scots gain small dispensing fee rise

Scottish pharmacy contractors are to receive a small increase in the standard dispensing fee, which will rise by 0.1p to 94.6p per item, following agreement on remuneration for 2001–02 between the Scottish Pharmaceutical General Council and the Scottish Executive Health Department.

The overall global sum will rise by 3.7 per cent to £83.6m. This is based on projected prescription volume growth of 3.5 per cent. Of this money, £750,000 will be set aside for funding model pharmaceutical care schemes. A model schemes development team will be separately funded (PJ, 18 August, p217). An additional £500,000 is being provided for the installation of patient advice areas within pharmacies (PJ, 29 September, p436). This money will be allocated to individual health boards.

The SPGC is to discuss the introduction of an initiative to improve patients’ compliance with their medication. This will involve redirecting funds from the current container allowance. The aim is to introduce this from 1 April 2002. Discussions on the sale of prepayment certificates and on modernising the pharmacy contract are continuing.

The results of a generic prices inquiry held in November 2000 mean that from 1 October, a clawback rate of 13.25 per cent will be applied to items in Part 7 of the Scottish Drug Tariff. A retrospective clawback will be applied for April to September. A simultaneous generics and proprietary inquiry will be held in April next year.

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