Nine more new products have been classed as ‘Drugs for which Discount is Not Deducted’ (DND list) from 1 July 2022, announced Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC).
This takes the total number of products granted DND status over the past 2 years to over 500 following checks made by the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee.
The Committee had made an application to DHSC and NHSBSA for the following 9 products to be added to the DND list of Individual items to which the discount deduction scale will no longer apply from July 2022:
- Fludrocortisone 50micrograms/5ml oral suspension (Group)
- Lorazepam 1mg/5ml oral suspension (Group)
- Lorazepam 500micrograms/5ml oral suspension (Group)
- Zopiclone 3.75mg/5ml oral solution (Group)
- Zopiclone 7.5mg/5ml oral solution (Group)
- GA explore5 oral powder 12.5g sachets
- HCU explore5 oral powder 12.5g sachets
- MSUD explore5 oral powder 12.5g sachets
- TYR explore5 oral powder 12.5g sachets
The DND list is updated monthly by the DHSC and includes grouped and individual items. Individual items are separately listed in Part II of the Drug Tariff.
Any items covered by the ‘Group Items’ heading are not listed again individually in Part II. Contractors can also check the Actual Medicinal Product (AMP) listing on Dictionary of Medicines and Devices (dm+d) to identify whether a product meets the DND criteria.
Group items
Any products that are covered by one or more of the Group items categories below are reimbursed without any discount deduction applied.
- Cold Chain Storage (ALL)
- Schedule 1, 2 or 3 Controlled Drugs: Products containing drugs listed in Schedules 1, 2 and 3 of the Misuse of Drugs Regulation 2001
- Cytotoxic or Cytostatic item (ALL):
- Immunoglobulins (ALL)
- Insulins for injection (ALL)
- Vaccines and antisera (ALL)
- Unlicensed medicines: ‘Specials’ not listed in Part VIIIB where the product has been sourced from a supplier holding a MHRA specials or importers licence (prescriptions must be endorsed with invoice price less discount/rebate)
- Hazardous chemicals
Individual items
Products that do not are covered by one or more of the Group item categories above must fulfil all three of the following criteria to qualify for entry to the DND list.
- the manufacturer(s), AAH and Alliance do not offer pharmacy contractors a discount
- fewer than 500,000 items per year are dispensed of the product
- average net ingredient cost (NIC) per item is more than £50
Cat Smith, Labour MP for Lancaster and Wyre