PPA Category D Recovery Strategy
(Reviewed and updated on 27 July 2001)

Background

• the backlog of prescriptions arose as a result of the generic drug supply problem which affected the volume of prescriptions being processed under Part VIII category D of the Drug Tariff. The circumstances that precipitated this problem were therefore outside the control of the PPA.
• an item is classified as category D within the Drug Tariff where there is a problem of availability at the lowest price.
• traditionally less than 1% of prescriptions were affected by category D (around 400,000 per month).
• the volumes increased to almost 17% for October 1999 prescriptions (around 7 million affected prescriptions for that month), and gradually reduced in subsequent months. The time to process a category D prescription took longer than for a non category D item.
• although the generic supply issue has now been resolved, the cumulative effect of the increase in category D prescriptions led to a three month backlog of unprocessed prescriptions, representing in the order of 150 million prescriptions.
  
• category D effectively no longer exists. This is an encouraging factor in our recovery strategy.

Recovery strategy

As previously advised, within the PPA we have:

• re-engineered the data capture systems to deal more effectively with category D prescriptions.
• created interim payment systems to ensure that dispensing contractors and doctors receive a regular payment each month.
• re-designed our data entry process, to split the business process. This has enabled the recruitment and faster training of new entrants.
• recruited staff to work evening shifts, to maximise the use of computer data input systems.
• continued to recruit additional staff for day time working
• continued to work overtime.

Processing timescales

The positive impact of our recovery strategy means that we are now processing a month's prescriptions within an approximate three-week time-scale. This will continue until the backlog is cleared and means that:

• the backlog of unprocessed prescriptions has been reduced to around five weeks.
• current indications are that the backlog will be cleared around the end of September 2001.
  
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