The PSNC and Department of Health and Social Care (DH) have made a retrospective drug tariff price adjustment request to the NHS Business Service Authority for Priadel tablets.
The DH and Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee have retrospectively determined that prescriptions for Priadel 200mg and 400mg tablets for November 2020 will be reimbursed at the new NHS list prices of £7.50 and £8.50 respectively, the PSNC has said.
The latest request for the drug price adjustment follows a recent announcement from the Competition and Markets Authority that Essential Pharma – the manufacturer of the drug – and the DH have agreed on a revised price for Priadel tablets.
According to the CMA announcement, the new prices were effective from November 5. As per the usual price change mechanism rules, any generic or branded prescriptions for Priadel 200mg and 400mg tablets submitted for payment in November would be reimbursed at the old prices and the new prices would apply from the December 2020 onwards.
Product price details
| Drug (pack size) | November 2020 Drug Tariff price | Re-determined price for November 2020 | December 2020 Drug Tariff price |
| Priadel 200mg modified-release tablets (100) | £2.76 | £7.50 | £7.50 |
| Priadel 400mg modified-release tablets (100) | £4.02 | £8.50 | £8.50 |
The price change mechanism rules state that any list price changes for proprietary products and Drug Tariff Part VIIIA products where the price is based on a proprietary product take effect for any prescriptions dispensed in the following month.
“With the price increases for Priadel tablets coming into effect early in the month of November, a retrospective drug tariff price adjustment was requested by PSNC to ensure that pharmacy contractors are not faced with dispensing the higher priced stock at a loss against prescriptions for Priadel tablets submitted for payment in November 2020,” the pharmacy negotiator said.
“If you have problems obtaining a Part VIII product or problems obtaining the product at the stated Drug Tariff price, please report the issue to PSNC using the online feedback form on the PSNC website.”
The PSNC has asked pharmacy contractors to include full details of the supplier and price paid for any products sourced above the drug tariff price. It further added that it will investigate the extent of the problem and, where appropriate, discuss the issue with the DH.
Last month, the DH and Priadel manufacturer, Essential Pharma agreed for a price cut to ensure that the drug reaches all the needy hands.
As agreed with the DH, the pharmaceutical company also offered commitments to continue the supply of lithium medication used for the treatment of bipolar disease.
The company’s agreement with the DH follows a probe launched by the CMA over the suspicion that the company may have misused its dominant position in the market to stop the supply of the drug.
Following the launch of the probe by the market regulator, Essential Pharma halted the withdrawal of Priadel and entered into price negotiations with the DH.
The patients might have forced to take more expensive alternative treatments such as Camcolit, if Essential Pharma had opted to withdraw Priadel from the market.
