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YOUR QUERIES

ASK Our Information

Services agony
aunt Sue Swift
SUE shares your

recent queries
around The

Drug Tariff.

Remember - Information Services are here to offer a helping hand whenever you need them.
Let us do the work so you can concentrate on helping your team and your patients.

Ask Sue: How Do I Correctly Endorse Specials on a Prescription?
Understanding Drug Tariff and non-Tariff Specials

At Numark, one of the most common queries we receive is about endorsing Specials —
particularly when it comes to knowing the difference between Drug Tariff listed and non-
Drug Tariff listed items. To help clarify things, we’ve created a new guide, now available on
NumarkNet. Here’s a quick Q&A to break down the basics.

Q: What exactly is a ‘Special’?

A: Specials are unlicensed medicines Q: What records do I need
prepared to meet a patient’s specific
clinical need when a licensed product to keep for Specials?
isn’t suitable. Because they fall outside
the usual licensing process, they come A: The MHRA requires you to retain the
with specific endorsement and following for at least 5 years:
record-keeping requirements. • Source of the Special
• Patient name and date of supply
• Prescriber’s details

Q: How do I know if a Special
is listed in the Drug Tariff?

A: Check Parts VIIIB or VIIID of the Drug
Tariff. If it’s listed, that affects how it should
be endorsed and reimbursed.

Q: What’s the difference between Drug Tariff listed and
non-Drug Tariff listed Specials?

Drug Tariff Listed Special Non-Drug Tariff Listed Special
Endorsement SP or ED (if extemporaneously prepared) SP + invoice price (less discount), MSL number,
batch number or ED + ingredient breakdown
Payment Based on set Drug Tariff price in Part VIIIB/ Based on invoice price or extemporaneous prep
VIIID + £20 out-of-pocket contribution
Broken Bulk (BB) Only allowed in Part VIIID (not VIIIB) Can be claimed on ingredients used
Out-of-Pocket Not needed if SP/ED used Quantity, batch number and cost must be
included if claiming

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P4403.59-V68_Numark Pharmacy Magazine_September 25 6000th member cover 2.indd 32 11/08/2025 13:51:46