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Hopefully the information below will help the
understanding. Let’s start with the Drug Tariff.
(https://www.drugtariff.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/)
The NHS Business Services Authority published. One section is titled Part
(NHSBSA) Drug Tariff (DT) is a VIIIC, which covers products supplied
monthly publication that outlines the free of charge or at a nominal
rules, regulations, and reimbursement price under commercial or centrally
arrangements for pharmacists and procured arrangements.
dispensing doctors in England and
Wales. There is a separate regional Part VIIIC focuses on branded
drug tariff for Scotland and for drugs that are made available
Northern Ireland. The DT is essential to community pharmacies and
for determining how much we will be dispensing doctors either completely
paid for dispensing NHS prescriptions. free-of-charge or at reduced cost
by the supplier or via a government
The Drug Tariff includes a range of scheme. Where a product is included,
sections covering various aspects the Secretary of State determines a
of pharmaceutical pricing, such as basic reimbursement price, usually
reimbursable drugs, appliance costs, the nominal cost or a small, fixed fee,
and the conditions under which rather than the full NHS list price.
certain items can be supplied. This
ensures consistent pricing across A notable example is the cholesterol-
the NHS and transparency in how lowering treatment Inclisiran (Leqvio),
public funds are used to reimburse reimbursed at £60 per pack under a
dispensing contractors. special deal between Novartis and
NHS England. The list price for Leqvio
Whilst much of the Drug Tariff is a whopping £1987.36!
is focussed on the fees paid to
pharmacy contractors, there (During the COVID-19 pandemic,
are elements which relate to all oral antivirals such as Paxlovid were
dispensing contractors including supplied free to pharmacies, with
dispensing doctors. Part VIII is one a nominal £2.50 reimbursement
such part with reimbursement price per pack, listed in Part VIIIC. This
for generics, drug tariff specials arrangement has now finished).
and other generically listed items
The Drug Tariff | PS Magazine 11
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