Amlodipine returns to Category A for the next 3 months

Members will be aware that Amlodipine is currently in short supply, writes Dr Allan Tennant. The purchase price is now equal too or higher than the Category M reimbursement price. Some wholesalers are limiting the size of orders.

16 April 2005

On the 14th of April the PSNC announced "The Department of Health have agreed that for the months of April, May and June, Amlodipine will be considered as a Category A Item in Part VIII of the Drug Tariff. The price of products in Category A are based on a weighted average of the list prices of AAH, Unichem, APS, Alpharma and IVAX." Changes to Category M prices will happen quarterly.

The DDA welcomes this announcement which will mean that Dispensing Doctors will not need to change to brands.

Omeprazole continues to be in short supply and remains in the Category A list. We predict that it will enter Category M in the July Drug Tariff if its availability improves. Members should run stocks down towards the end of June to ensure that they are not left with a loss on product on the shelves when the price drops.