Archives: Contractor Email

Dear Colleague
Community Pharmacy England have advised that the fourth update of concessionary prices below granted on 23 December 2024 was the final update for December 2024.
DrugPack
Size		Concessionary Price
Amantadine 100mg capsules56£12.75
Aqueous cream500£5.17
Ascorbic acid 100mg tablets28£35.26
Ascorbic acid 500mg tablets28£37.97
Aspirin 300mg tablets100£9.81
Aspirin 300mg tablets32£3.14
Benzoyl peroxide 5% / Clindamycin 1% gel30£11.90
Benzoyl peroxide 5% / Clindamycin 1% gel60£22.00
Candesartan 4mg tablets7£0.59
Carbimazole 5mg tablets100£7.27
Desogestrel 75microgram tablets84£2.57
Dorzolamide 20mg/ml / Timolol 5mg/ml eye drops5£5.50
Escitalopram 5mg tablets28£1.99
Estradiol 10microgram pessaries24£10.68
Flucloxacillin 500mg capsules28£3.04
Gabapentin 600mg tablets100£24.90
Glimepiride 1mg tablets30£1.07
Haloperidol 1.5mg tablets28£9.29
Haloperidol 5mg tablets28£9.88
Hydrocortisone 10mg tablets30£1.96
Itraconazole 100mg capsules15£6.95
Levetiracetam 250mg tablets60£1.88
Lofepramine 70mg tablets56£24.50
Lorazepam 1mg tablets28£4.76
Mebeverine 135mg tablets100£3.55
Melatonin 1mg/ml oral solution sugar free150£50.50
Memantine 10mg tablets28£2.41
Memantine 20mg tablets28£3.53
Mercaptopurine 50mg tablets25£22.41
Metformin 1g modified-release tablets56£3.65
Methotrexate 10mg tablets100£37.80
Midazolam 10mg/2ml solution for injection ampoules10£5.58
Mometasone 0.1% cream30£3.25
Mometasone 0.1% ointment30£2.96
Naftidrofuryl 100mg capsules84£10.00
Naproxen 250mg gastro-resistant tablets56£9.02
Naproxen 500mg gastro-resistant tablets56£19.60
Nicorandil 10mg tablets60£5.67
Olanzapine 10mg orodispersible tablets sugar free28£10.20
Olanzapine 15mg tablets28£2.57
Ondansetron 4mg tablets10£5.24
Oxytetracycline 250mg tablets28£11.39
Pregabalin 150mg capsules56£2.33
Pregabalin 300mg capsules56£2.76
Pregabalin 50mg capsules84£7.63
Propantheline bromide 15mg tablets112£103.66
Quetiapine 300mg tablets60£8.99
Ramipril 2.5mg tablets28£4.86
Ropinirole 2mg tablets28£21.48
Ropinirole 500microgram tablets28£11.15
Sitagliptin 100mg/5ml oral solution sugar free150£31.01
Tadalafil 5mg tablets28£8.25
Telmisartan 80mg tablets28£11.02
Temazepam 10mg tablets28£24.67
Terbinafine 250mg tablets14£3.50

Concessionary prices will be paid against the usual code, no additional endorsements are needed.

Please continue to notify CPNI of any pricing issues you are experiencing via our Medicine Shortage Reporter.

Concessionary prices are also published on the CPNI website.

Kind regards

SENT ON BEHALF OF
GERARD GREENE
Chief Executive
Dear Contractor
The Department of Health NI issued guidance dated 18 December 2024 detailing upcoming changes under Windsor Framework arrangements from 1 January 2025.  This was covered in the contractor update of that date which is replicated below.

Background

The Windsor Framework sets out the long-term arrangements for the supply of medicines into Northern Ireland. It will ensure that human medicines can be approved and licensed on a UK-wide basis by the UK competent authority, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, and provides for the disapplication of EU Falsified Medicines Directive (FMD) safety features for medicines marketed and supplied in NI.

The guidance covers topics including:

  • Changes to Medicine Authorisations
  • EU FMD which will no longer apply in NI from 1 January 2025
  • Labelling and Packaging

The guidance also contains links to other supporting documents, and pharmacy contractors may find the section on FAQs particularly helpful.

Action

Contractors are asked to:

  • Note the recent correspondence detailing the upcoming changes under Windsor Framework arrangements (including FMD) from 1 January 2025;
  • Note the additional guidance which is linked to the letter and, in particular, the FAQs which can be found here; and
  • Ensure that all relevant dispensary staff are made aware of the arrangements.

If you have any queries, please direct them in the first instance to mrg_inspectors@health-ni.gov.uk.

CPNI colleagues are also here to help you.

Kind regards

Mike

SENT ON BEHALF OF
PROF MIKE MAWHINNEY
Head of Regulatory Affairs

Dear Contractor
The Department of Health’s Head of Medicines Regulatory Group, and the Controlled Drug Accountable Officer, have issued correspondence dated 23 December 2024 to provide guidance on the correct procedures for obtaining stocks of medicines and controlled drugs.

SUMMARY

The correspondence gives guidance on the following:

  • How GPs, including locums on the PMPL, may requisition medicines including CDs for health service stock using HS21S forms.
  • Requisition of stock for health service out-of-hours organisations.
  • Requisition of stock for non-health service (private) stock.
  • Actions and requirements for GPs.
  • Actions and requirements for Community Pharmacists.

Action

Contractors are asked to:

  • Note the recent DoH correspondence issued detailing guidance of the correct procedures for obtaining stocks of medicines and controlled drugs.
  • Ensure that the information and correspondence is shared with all relevant pharmacy staff.

If you have any queries, please direct them in the first instance to your SPPG Pharmacy Advisor or an MRG inspector. CPNI colleagues are also here to help you.

Kind Regards,

SENT ON BEHALF OF
Gerard Greene
Chief Executive
Dear Colleague
The fourth update of concessionary prices were granted today for December 2024:
DrugPack
Size		Concessionary Price
Amantadine 100mg capsules56£12.75
Aqueous cream500£5.17
Ascorbic acid 100mg tablets28£35.26
Ascorbic acid 500mg tablets28£37.97
Aspirin 300mg tablets100£9.81
Aspirin 300mg tablets32£3.14
Benzoyl peroxide 5% / Clindamycin 1% gel30£11.90
Benzoyl peroxide 5% / Clindamycin 1% gel60£22.00
Candesartan 4mg tablets7£0.59
Carbimazole 5mg tablets100£7.27
Desogestrel 75microgram tablets84£2.57
Dorzolamide 20mg/ml / Timolol 5mg/ml eye drops5£5.50
Escitalopram 5mg tablets28£1.99
Estradiol 10microgram pessaries24£10.68
Flucloxacillin 500mg capsules28£3.04
Gabapentin 600mg tablets100£24.90
Glimepiride 1mg tablets30£1.07
Haloperidol 1.5mg tablets28£9.29
Haloperidol 5mg tablets28£9.88
Hydrocortisone 10mg tablets30£1.96
Itraconazole 100mg capsules15£6.95
Levetiracetam 250mg tablets60£1.88
Lofepramine 70mg tablets56£24.50
Lorazepam 1mg tablets28£4.76
Mebeverine 135mg tablets100£3.55
Melatonin 1mg/ml oral solution sugar free150£50.50
Memantine 10mg tablets28£2.41
Memantine 20mg tablets28£3.53
Mercaptopurine 50mg tablets25£22.41
Metformin 1g modified-release tablets56£3.65
Methotrexate 10mg tablets100£37.80
Midazolam 10mg/2ml solution for injection ampoules10£5.58
Mometasone 0.1% cream30£3.25
Mometasone 0.1% ointment30£2.96
Naftidrofuryl 100mg capsules84£10.00
Naproxen 250mg gastro-resistant tablets56£9.02
Naproxen 500mg gastro-resistant tablets56£19.60
Nicorandil 10mg tablets60£5.67
Olanzapine 10mg orodispersible tablets sugar free28£10.20
Olanzapine 15mg tablets28£2.57
Ondansetron 4mg tablets10£5.24
Oxytetracycline 250mg tablets28£11.39
Pregabalin 150mg capsules56£2.33
Pregabalin 300mg capsules56£2.76
Pregabalin 50mg capsules84£7.63
Propantheline bromide 15mg tablets112£103.66
Quetiapine 300mg tablets60£8.99
Ramipril 2.5mg tablets28£4.86
Ropinirole 2mg tablets28£21.48
Ropinirole 500microgram tablets28£11.15
Sitagliptin 100mg/5ml oral solution sugar free150£31.01
Tadalafil 5mg tablets28£8.25
Telmisartan 80mg tablets28£11.02
Temazepam 10mg tablets28£24.67
Terbinafine 250mg tablets14£3.50

Concessionary prices will be paid against the usual code, no additional endorsements are needed.

Please continue to notify CPNI of any pricing issues you are experiencing via our Medicine Shortage Reporter.

Concessionary prices are also published on the CPNI website.

Kind regards

SENT ON BEHALF OF
GERARD GREENE
Chief Executive
This update contains important information for community pharmacy teams.

CPNI ALERTS

DOH(NI) ALERTS

BSO ALERTS

Department of Health Consultation

The Department of Health has launched a public consultation on the sustainable and cost-effective use of medicines in Northern Ireland.

The consultation on ‘Valuing medicines: A Strategy for the Sustainable Use of Medicines in Northern Ireland’ is seeking views from healthcare professionals, the public, and stakeholders on proposals aimed at supporting improvements in the use of medicines across the HSC.

The consultation closes on 26 February 2025 and details on how to respond can be found here.

MHRA UPDATE

Pharmacy team(s) can keep updated via CPNI’s Contractor Calendar and Contractor Emails.

Or report medicine shortages, pricing and staffing issues via CPNI’s Medicine Shortage Reporter and Situation Reporter.

Please bring this to the attention of your pharmacy team(s).

Kind regards

SENT ON BEHALF OF
Gerard Greene
Chief Executive

Dear Colleague

On behalf of the Board and staff at CPNI we write to wish you, your teams and your families a happy Christmas and to thank you and your teams most sincerely for the professionalism and dedication shown in the care of your patients during this year.

You and your teams have been right at the forefront of primary care delivering an ever expanding range of services to meet the needs of your patients, and that has to be commended.

The roll-out of new Pharmacy First Services such as Urinary Tract Infections and Sore Throat Test and Treat, as well as the imminent launch of the pilot Shingles service demonstrate the agility, commitment and clinical expertise available across the network of pharmacies in Northern Ireland.

Challenges remain, whether they be funding, workload, medicine supply, workforce or regulatory related and CPNI will continue to make representations to the Health Minister and officials as we seek to resolve these in 2025.

For now, as you approach the final few days before the Christmas break we wish you a peaceful and enjoyable Christmas and New Year period with your families and friends.

With best wishes for 2025.

MARIE SMITH MPSNI
Chair
GERARD F GREENE FPSNI
Chief Executive