§ Lord Jacobsasked Her Majesty's Government:
What the National Health Service is currently paying for allopurinol 300 mg blister packs of 28 tablets; and how this price compares with the last available price it was paying for loose packed tablets; and [HL3396]
Whether the National Health Service can still purchase loose packet tablets of allopurinol 300 mg; and, if so, at what price; and [HL3397]
What price the National Health Service will pay, under the new regulations on the purchase of generic medicines for allopurinol 300 mg in blister packs of 28 tablets; how that price will compare with the current retail price; and by what percentage the new price would differ from the current retail price; and [HL3398]
What is the retail price of allopurinol 300 mg in blister packs of 28 tablets; and how it compares with the price in France of FFr20.30 for 28 tablets. [HL3395]
§ Lord Hunt of Kings HeathMedicines dispensed on the National Health Service in the community are purchased by community pharmacies and dispensing doctors at various prices. The cost to the NHS is generally the drug tariff price—the price at which community pharmacies and dispensing doctors are generally reimbursed—less a deduction which reflects discount obtained on medicines purchases. Prices paid by hospital pharmacy departments for use in hospitals or for dispensing to outpatients will often vary from those applicable in primary care.
The current (July) drug tariff price for allopurinol 300 mg in patient packs of 28 is 529p. A price for a 100-tablet pack (which may have been based partly or fully on the price of packs where the tablets were available in loose rather than strip and blister format) was last listed in the drug tariff edition of November 1999 at 571p.
112WAIt is possible that packs containing tablets in loose format are available from some suppliers. Because only the 28-pack is listed in the drug tariff, reimbursement will be at a price pro rata to the 28-pack regardless of the pack size actually used in dispensing.
Under the Government's maximum price scheme for generic medicines, the maximum price of supply of allopurinol 300 mg (28-pack) to community pharmacies and dispensing doctors for NHS use will be 218p. The cost to the NHS will depend on the drug tariff price which will be no more than the maximum price of supply, but could be less, depending on competition in the market.
As a prescription only medicine, allopurinol cannot be sold by retail without a prescription. Where it is dispensed against a private prescription the price is a matter for the individual pharmacy concerned. The Government do not collect any information on prices charged for medicines dispensed privately.