March Drug Tariff News
Category H Prices Published
Reimbursement prices for the initial 11 multi-source products transitioning from Category C to the newly established Category H have been confirmed in the March 2026 Drug Tariff.
Published today, prices for 6 products have increased whereas 5 products have seen a decrease compared to their previous Category C prices.
Category H prices will be adjusted on a quarterly basis, with the next update scheduled for June 2026. Community Pharmacy England has expressed concerns regarding the timing of these reforms and their potential impact on the medicines supply chain, and will continue to monitor the transition closely.
| Product | New Category H price (March 2026) | Previous Category C price (based on) | Price increase or decrease |
| Cinchocaine 5mg / Hydrocortisone 5mg suppositories (12) | £4.31 | £5.08 (Proctosedyl®) |
↓ £0.77 |
| Doxazosin 4mg modified‑release tablets (28) | £5.24 | £5.00 (Cardura® XL) |
↑ £0.24 |
| Etodolac 600mg modified‑release tablets (30) | £15.56 | £15.50 (Lodine® SR) |
↑ £0.06 |
| Isosorbide mononitrate 25mg modified‑release capsules (28) | £5.53 | £4.22 (Elantan® LA25) |
↑ £1.31 |
| Nicotine 4mg medicated chewing gum sugar free (96) | £10.18 | £13.57 (Nicotinell®) |
↓ £3.39 |
| Omeprazole 10mg dispersible gastro‑resistant tablets (28) | £9.44 | £9.30 (Losec MUPS®) |
↑ £0.14 |
| Omeprazole 20mg dispersible gastro‑resistant tablets (28) | £14.04 | £13.92 (Losec MUPS®) |
↑ £0.12 |
| Omeprazole 40mg dispersible gastro‑resistant tablets (7) | £6.92 | £6.96 (Losec MUPS®) |
↓ £0.04 |
| Pseudoephedrine hydrochloride 60mg tablets (12) | £3.02 | £3.00 (Sudafed® Decongestant) |
↑ £0.02 |
| Ursodeoxycholic acid 500mg tablets (100) | £69.07 | £80.00 (Ursofalk®) |
↓ £10.93 |
| Verapamil 120mg modified‑release tablets (28) | £7.67 | £7.71 (Half Securon® SR) |
↓ £0.04 |
We encourage pharmacy teams to report any Category H products unavailable to purchase at or below the stated Drug Tariff price, using our online feedback form on the Community Pharmacy England’s Price Concessions webpage. Community Pharmacy England will investigate these reports and request the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) to grant any price concessions, if required.
Reference Community Pharmacy England
Category H – action.
The 5 items which have had the reimbursement prices have reduced are:
All of the above items now need to be prescribed by brand if the listed brand is to be dispensed.
Additions to Part 2
Only 1 item has been added to Part 2 of the March Drug Tariff, and that one item is:
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
There has been no additions to Part 8a for March with the exception of the introduction of Category H.
Deletions to Part 8a
15 Items have been deleted from the March Drug Tariff, ones which I think you may find of interest are:
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.
Other Changes to Part 8a
23 items are listed in ‘Other changes’, 11 of those changes are items moving from Category C to Category H, mentioned above. Ones which I think you may find of interest: