You can find information about the container allowance and consumables in Part IV of the Drug Tariff.
Containers
All pharmacy contractors are paid 10p for every prescription item supplied where the quantity ordered is outside of the pack size or a multiple of the pack size for products:
- listed in Part VIIIA of the Tariff
- not listed in Part VIIIA of the Tariff for the pack size published by the manufacturer, wholesaler or supplier is endorsed by or on behalf of the contractor
- where the pack size is unknown by the Pricing Authority for the pack size endorsed by the contractor
For contractors who have dispensed any drug except for oral liquid methadone against an FP10MDA prescription form, the container allowance will be paid once per instalment regardless if the amount dispensed matches a listed pack size.
For oral liquid methadone, this payment will only be made where the total volume prescribed is outside a pack size listed in Part VIIIA Drug Tariff listed pack or a multiple of.
The container allowance will be paid automatically, no endorsement is needed to claim this fee.
The container allowance will not be paid where:
- a special container is dispensed
- Original Pack Dispensing has been applied on the dispensed quantity
Consumables
All pharmacy contractors are paid 1.24p on every prescription item, except oxygen, dispensed to cover those instances when one of the following is required but not supplied by the manufacturer of the medication:
- a 5ml plastic measuring spoon
- a 1, 5 or 10ml plastic oral syringe
- a dropper bottle or separate dropper for administration by ear eye or nose
- a vaginal applicator for contraceptive creams or gels
In very exceptional circumstances, this will also cover a payment for a diluent. The prescription must be endorsed appropriately in this instance.
The 1.24p will be paid automatically, no endorsement is needed to claim this fee.
Contractors must comply with the relevant specifications given in Part IV of the Drug Tariff.
Consumables are not prescribable on their own and cannot be written by the prescriber on the FP10 as a separate item.