Changes to the List of Items for which Discount is Not Deducted

The list of items for which discount is not deducted had become lengthy and cumbersome and the way items were listed was unclear. From November 2008 presentational changes will be made to simplify and clarify the list for which discount is not deducted.

These changes do not affect the criteria for addition or deletion of products from the list. The list of items for which discount is not deducted will appear shorter after these changes but the total number of active items in the list is the same.

Change 1: Group entries

Group entries (e.g. Cytotoxic/Cytostatic items”) are now listed at the front of the list, not placed within it. Any item that falls within one of these group entries is automatically included on the list and is an item discount is not deducted from.

“Cold Chain Storage” is a new group entry.

Other products included in the list of items for which discount is not deducted individually rather than because they fall under a group entry are still listed individually, (subject to the way items where all strengths of a drug are items for which discount is not deducted are presented).

Change 2: Where all strengths are items for which discount is not deducted

Where all available strengths of a medicine qualify for entry onto the list, the product is listed once and it will be indicated by an “ALL” marker that all strengths are items for which discount is not deducted.

E.G.
[Aranesp solution for injection pre-filled syringes (ALL)]
Not:
[Aranesp solution for injection pre-filled syringes 100micrograms/0.5ml
Aranesp solution for injection pre-filled syringes 10micrograms/0.4ml
Aranesp solution for injection pre-filled syringes 150micrograms/0.3ml
Aranesp solution for injection pre-filled syringes 15micrograms/0.375ml… Etc.]

If a product is available in multiple strengths and not all available strengths are items for which discount is not deducted, those strengths that do qualify will to be listed separately. If a product does not have an (ALL) marker next to it this indicates not all strengths are items for which discount is not deducted, only those individually listed.