Hi Amanda,

Can I ask you a question please which I should know the answer to.

I’m looking at the Dispensing Doctors Manufacturer Discount Schemes to see if we get discounts on certain products but there is also a Reduced Wholesale Agreement Matrix. If the item is also listed on there with a discount next to it, does that mean we get that on top of the MDS discount? For example Trajenta has a 10% MDS which still makes it a loss (taking clawback into consideration) but when I look at the Reduced Wholesale Agreement Matrix, it has a 3.75% next to it so would that make it a 13.75% discount – making it a 0.85p profit for us?

Yes you are correct, when looking at a brand and the associated discounts, there are 4 area’s to factor in:

·        Full wholesaler discount (unlikely as most brands have gone to a Reduced wholesaler set up)

·        Reduced wholesaler (which for Boehringer is 3.75%) depending on wholesaler

·        Manufacturer discount scheme (for Trajenta is 10%)

·        Or Zero – nothing.

So yes you are correct, you would add the Reduced wholesaler to the MDS and get a total of 13.75% discount

Good afternoon Amanda

Hope you are ok?

Quick question – in your newsletter you do a comparison of brand v generic.  For instance, it says about Zanidip being more profitable than Lercanidipine.  But, how do you know what the re-imbursement price is for Zanidip?   I have a similar thing where a patient MUST have Lustral, and even though we script as Lustral, buy as cheap as possible, how do I know what I’m getting reimbursed back?

Hi there,

I am very well thanks – hope all is good with you?

You will find the reimbursement price of Zanidip and other brands on the DMD portal.

Just as a FYI

Zanidip 10mg – reimbursement price is £5.70

Zanidip 20mg – reimbursement price is £10.82- both strengths get a 3% reduced wholesaler discount and if you purchase over 5 packs- you will get an additional  15% Manufacturer discount- but you have to purchase from Alliance to get the discount.

Lustral 50mg – reimbursement price is £17.82

Lustral 100mg – reimbursement price is £29.16- no discount on either strength – I would try and purchase as a Parallel import.

Hi Amanda,

Hope you are ok! 

Could you advise me on Implants/Coils prescriptions, do I need to submit these as a P/A to the PPA?

Hi there,

Items such as Mirena, Kyleena, Jaydess are automatically classed as PA so submitting your prescription to Prescription Services will automatically class it as PA. Nexplanon was given PA status in January this year so again gets automatic PA status.