I am confused!
The BNF/NICE drug tariff gives £101.29 x 28 25mcg liothyronine tablets. bnf.nice.org.uk/medicinal-f...
But the NHS BSA gives £92.51. nhsbsa.nhs.uk/pharmacies-gp...
Does anyone know exactly how the system works?! Could the NHS BSA only apply to GPs? Although I thought the price of T3 had reduced more for hospitals - in which case these figures are the wrong way round?
Price dropped this month to £92.51
Was £101 in September
Yes, but why does BNF show £101.29? It surely can't just be lagging behind timewise, as it's mid October now. And it willbe an automated system anyway.
Why the discrepancy?
It’s likely is just time lag …..that’s the price from last month
The British National Formulary does explain some of its price content:
Prices in the BNF
Basic NHS net prices are given in the BNF to provide an indication of relative cost. Where there is a choice of suitable preparations for a particular disease or condition the relative cost may be used in making a selection. Cost-effective prescribing must, however, take into account other factors (such as dose frequency and duration of treatment) that affect the total cost. The use of more expensive drugs is justified if it will result in better treatment of the patient, or a reduction of the length of an illness, or the time spent in hospital.
Prices are regularly updated using the Drug Tariff and proprietary price information published by the NHS dictionary of medicines and devices (dm+d). The weekly updated dm+d data (including prices) can be accessed using the dm+d browser of the NHS Business Services Authority (nhsbsa.nhs.uk/pharmacies-gp.... Prices have been calculated from the net cost used in pricing NHS prescriptions and generally reflect whole dispensing packs. Prices for extemporaneously prepared preparations are not provided in the BNF as prices vary between different manufacturers. In Wound management products and elasticated garments prices stated are per dressing or bandage.
BNF prices are not suitable for quoting to patients seeking private prescriptions or contemplating over-the-counter purchases because they do not take into account VAT, professional fees, and other overheads.
A fuller explanation of costs to the NHS may be obtained from the Drug Tariff. Separate drug tariffs are applicable to England and Wales (nhsbsa.nhs.uk/pharmacies-gp..., Scotland (isdscotland.org/Health-Topi..., and Northern Ireland (hscbusiness.hscni.net/servi...; prices in the different tariffs may vary.
