I cannot believe that the NHS drug buying department still hasn’t sorted out the Liothyronine pricing fiasco. Why are they fiddling around with prices like these when we all know that the excellent Unipharma T3 costs a few euros. Has this very old news not drifted their way yet, or is someone blocking it?
Amazing! Just after posting, I got an email from the DHSC!
Dear <helvella>,
Thank you for your correspondence of 1 June about the Drug Tariff. I have been asked to reply.
As you will be aware, the Drug Tariff contains the Secretary of State’s determinations outlining what the NHS will pay pharmacy contractors for providing pharmaceutical services, including reimbursement for the drugs and appliances dispensed. These determinations are made in accordance with the NHS (Pharmaceutical and Local Pharmaceutical Services) Regulations 2013 and after consultation with the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee (PSNC), the representative body of pharmacy contractors.
As long as a medicine (or other substance) is allowed on an NHS prescription, i.e., it is not listed in Part XVIIIA (Drugs, Medicines and Other Substances not to be ordered under a General Medical Services Contract), the pharmacy contractor will be reimbursed if they dispense it. The product’s reimbursement price is either as listed in Part VIII of the Drug Tariff, or when not listed, it is established according to the arrangements set out in Part II, Clause 8C (Basic Price) of the Drug Tariff. Note that products such as medical devices, pharmacy contractors will only be reimbursed for supplying a medical device if it is listed in Part IX of the Drug Tariff.
In this case, as there is no reimbursement price listed in Part VIII of the Drug Tariff for generic liothyronine 5mg, 10mg and 20mg capsules, when a pharmacy contractor dispenses an NHS prescription for one of these products, they will be reimbursed in accordance with Part II, Clause 8C (Basic Price) of the Drug Tariff. This sets out that pharmacy contractors will be reimbursed at the list price of the supplier endorsed by the pharmacy contractor. The list price of the supplier is usually the one in dm+d.
The department will investigate whether the three strengths of liothyronine capsules qualify to be listed with a reimbursement price in Part VIII in the Drug Tariff. However, due processes must be followed before any amendments are made to the determinations published in the Drug Tariff, especially the requirement of consultation with the PSNC therefore we cannot predict the outcome or timing. In the meantime, whilst liothyronine capsules are not specifically listed in Part VIII of the Drug Tariff, they can be prescribed and pharmacy contractors will be reimbursed as set out above.
Part VIIIA of the Tariff sets out reimbursement prices for prescriptions written generically. The categories are A, C and M. The reimbursement price is established differently depending on the category in which the product is placed.
I hope this reply is helpful.
Yours sincerely,
I have responded saying we use the tariff to find prices as we don't get manufacturers' price lists!
Below I have listed the six liothyronine products (tablets and capsules, in 5, 10 and 20 microgram dosages). In each case, the link will list all actual products in that group. However, it lists them by supplier. Suppliers of medicines can be manufacturers (including importers) as well as distributors. That means, you might see the same product multiple times – under the manufacturer and each distributor which handles it.
If you click on an actual product, you should see the price of the product.
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