DDS explains the secrets to dispensary profitability

In a presentation on the opening day, the DDA conference took a tour of the must-know information sources for dispensary profitability.

Prad Savania, director of Dispensing Doctor Solutions, urged delegates to prescribe and dispense from a practice formulary. "It's absolutely vital given reducing numbers of MDS and profitable reimbursement."

He said that a good formulary should be evidence based, compliant with guidance and based on standardised prescribing.

Key information sources for dispensing practices include the ePAct2 report, including top 20 prescribed drugs, personally administered and specialist drugs, generic report and - most importantly - the PDPI tool which details GP dispensing. Important sections of the Drug Tariff for dispensary profits are the preface, part 2 and 8a, specials and the Black List. Also helpful is the DMD browser for generic and brand information, discontinued items, Controlled Drug schedules and personally administered items.

However, common prescribing scenarios such as large GP teams or those with trainees and locums also made it rare to see dispensing friendly formularies in use. "This can mean the difference between losses, mediocre and good profits," he said.

View the presentation

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