Drug Tariff News

4th November 2025 - Source: Amanda Chell

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October Drug Tariff News

October Cat M prices strip £16.3m per quarter

There are now 608 lines in Category M, following nine deletions and three additions. The October prices reduce reimbursement by £16.3 million per quarter, following the latest community pharmacy medicine margin survey results.

The latest results from the quarterly Medicines Margin Survey indicate a total cumulative over delivery of £124m at the end of the January – March 2025 quarter.

Also reflected in the Q3 adjustment are:

• Adjustments for underlying market price movements during the quarter April – June 2025;
• The latest results of the Medicine Margin Survey up to the quarter January – March 2025.

In detail:

Nine deletions

Product	Pack size
Betamethasone 500mcg soluble tablets s/f	100
Isosorbide mononitrate 40mg tablets	56
Metformin 1g / Sitagliptin 50mg tablets	56
Mometasone 0.1% ointment	30g
Mometasone 0.1% ointment	100g
Oxybutynin 2.5mg tablets	56
Salbutamol 2.5mg/2.5ml nebuliser liquid unit dose vials	20
Ursodeoxycholic acid 250mg capsules	60
Venlafaxine 150mg modified-release tablets	30

 

Three additions

Product	Pack size
Fluticasone propionate 50micrograms/dose / Azelastine 137micrograms/dose nasal spray	120
Sitagliptin 50mg / Metformin 1g tablets	56
Venlafaxine 37.5mg modified-release capsules	28

In summary:

• 86 prices have increased, 18 by at least 50 per cent
• 511 prices have decreased, five by at least 50 per cent

DDA members can view a fully updated spreadsheet with prices sorted by price history, price change and % price change. Access the online library of Category M updates.

Reference DDA website

Additions to Part 2

24 items have been added to Part 2 of the October Drug Tariff. Ones which I think you may find of interest:

• Eflornithine 11.5% cream
• Macrogol 3350 oral powder 8.5g sachets sugar free
• Progesterone micronised 200mg vaginal capsules

Generally, items which fall into Part 2 of the Drug Tariff have no Wholesaler discount, you are potentially dispensing at a loss. You may consider sending the prescription away to a local Pharmacy to be dispensed.

Additions to Part 8a

5 items have been added to Part 8a of the October Drug Tariff, ones which I think you will find of interest are:

• Semaglutide 0.25mg/0.37ml solution for injection 1.5ml pre-filled disposable devices
• Semaglutide 1.7mg/0.75ml + 1mg/0.75ml + 2.4mg/0.75ml  solution for injection 3ml prefilled disposable devices, all have gone into the October Drug Tariff as a Category C item with the reimbursement price based on Wegovy FlexTouch. Currently only Alliance are stocking this product.
• Ursodeoxycholic acid 500mg capsules have also gone into the Drug Tariff as a Category C with the reimbursement price based on Alissa Healthcare Research Ltd. Only Alliance and AAH appear to be stocking at the moment.

Additions to Part 16

List of medicines covered by the HRT PPC HRT hormones

• Ovesse (Estriol 1mg/g vaginal cream with applicator) has been added to the list of items which are covered by the HRT PPC.

Deletions to Part 8a

10 Items have been deleted from the October Drug Tariff, ones which I think you may find of interest are:

• Antazoline 0.5% / Xylometazoline 0.05% eye drops more commonly known as Otrivine-Antistin has been deleted from the October Drug Tariff – this was discontinued in July 2025.
• Miconazole 20mg/g oromucosal gel sugar free- pack size of 80g has been deleted from the October Drug Tariff- this pack size was discontinued in March 25. The 15g tube is still available and listed in the Drug Tariff.
• Salbutamol 2.5mg/2.5ml nebuliser liquid unit dose vials has been removed from the October Drug Tariff. This product doesn’t appear to have been discontinued and is still available through all 3 wholesalers.

As a reminder Items which have been removed from the Drug Tariff part 8A can still be prescribed and dispensed but you will need to endorse the prescription with manufacturer, pack size and price paid.

Deletions to Part 9a

• FreeStyle Libre 2 Sensor 1 (contains 1 sensor, 1 sensor applicator)

Appliances which are not listed in Part 9 or have been removed from Part 9 are not allowed on an FP10 and will be disallowed by Prescription services.

Other Changes to Part 8a

55 items are listed in ‘Other changes’, DDS would strongly advise everyone to read through the ‘Other changes’ to see which ones affect your dispensary however,  ones which I think you may find of interest are:

• Mometasone 0.1% ointment 30g and 100g have moved from a Category M to a Category C and the reimbursement price is based on Elocon. This has been a long time coming as the Mometasone ointment has been a Generic over Tariff for a number of years.
• Metformin 750mg modified-release tablets, pack size 28 and 56 have dropped from Category C to Category A, and the reimbursement price has dropped significantly. Most wholesalers appear to be selling under tariff price at the moment.
• Fentanyl 200, 600 + 800 microgram lozenges have remained as a Category C but the reimbursement price is now based on Cynril. Previously the reimbursement price was based on Actiq and had a higher reimbursement price.

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