Community Pharmacy England (CPE) - News updates

The Lateral flow device tests supply service for patients potentially eligible for COVID-19 treatments (LFD service) will continue to be commissioned as an Advanced service through 2026/27. NHS England has agreed the fee for provision of the service will increase to £4.19 + VAT from 1st April 2026, following a request from Community Pharmacy England [...] The post C-19 LFD service: commissioning continues through 2026/27 appeared first on Community Pharmacy England.

Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has issued a medicine supply notification for Chlordiazepoxide 5mg and 10mg capsules. MSN/2026/021 Tier 2 – Medium impact Date of issue: 30 March 2026 Chlordiazepoxide 5mg and 10mg capsules (Viatris) are out of stock until mid-July 2026. Chlordiazepoxide 10mg capsules (Kent Pharma) have been discontinued. Chlordiazepoxide 5mg capsules [...] The post Medicine Supply Notification: Chlordiazepoxide 5mg and 10mg capsules appeared first on Community Pharmacy England.

Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has issued a medicine supply notification for Cefixime (Suprax®) 200mg tablets. MSN/2026/020 Tier 2 – medium impact Date of issue: 30 March 2026 Cefixime (Suprax®) 200mg tablets are in limited supply until mid-October 2026. Alternative broad-spectrum antibiotics remain available. Unlicensed supplies may be sourced, lead times vary. Unlicensed [...] The post Medicine Supply Notification: Cefixime (Suprax® ) 200mg tablets appeared first on Community Pharmacy England.

23 new products (including those with multiple flavours) have been added to the ‘Drugs for which Discount is Not Deducted’ (DND) list from 1 April 2026. Community Pharmacy England, on behalf of pharmacy owners, applied to the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) for these products to [...] The post 23 products added to the Discount Not Deducted (DND) list from April 2026 appeared first on Community Pharmacy England.

MHRA Class 2 Medicines Recall: Rabies, Human normal Immunoglobulin 500IU solution for Injection (Bio Products Laboratory Limited) Drug alert number: EL(26)A/18 Date issued: 30 March 2026 Bio Products Laboratory Limited is recalling one batch of Human Rabies Immunoglobulin following a stability failure for this batch. The batch has shown a reduction in potency of the [...] The post MHRA Class 2 Medicines Recall: Rabies, Human normal Immunoglobulin 500IU solution for Injection (Bio Products Laboratory Limited) appeared first on Community Pharmacy England.

Pharmacy owners are reminded that the NHS Flu Vaccination Service ends on 31st March 2026. Pharmacy teams should not administer any further vaccinations under this service after this date. Pharmacy owners are reminded to ensure they have submitted their claims for payment for the service. These should be submitted within one month of, and no [...] The post Reminder: Flu Vac Service 2025/26 ends appeared first on Community Pharmacy England.

Negotiations on the Community Pharmacy Contractual Framework (CPCF) arrangements for 2026/27 are still in progress between Community Pharmacy England, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and NHS England. Whilst all parties have been working hard on the negotiations, it is clear that they will not reach a conclusion before the start of the [...] The post CPCF 2026/27: Ongoing negotiations mean no immediate changes appeared first on Community Pharmacy England.

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has today (27/03/2026) confirmed the following list of price concessions for March 2026: Please note: Community Pharmacy England has submitted price concession applications for a number of other medicines affected by pricing issues this month. We will issue further updates as soon as we hear back from the [...] The post March 2026 Price Concessions 3rd Update appeared first on Community Pharmacy England.

Following representations from Community Pharmacy England, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has re-determined that the following products will be granted special container status from 1 April 2026. Generic drug name (dm+d descriptor) Brand and/or manufacturer Pack Size Special container Afatinib 20mg tablets Giotrif® 20mg tablets (Boehringer Ingelheim Ltd) 28 tablet        [...] The post 13 products re-classified as special containers from April 2026 appeared first on Community Pharmacy England.

The Drug Tariff Preface published monthly, lists additions, deletions and other changes to products listed in the Drug Tariff. Below is a summary of the changes coming into effect from 1 April 2026. Key g Special container – This product is a special container and should be dispensed in its complete original pack size. n Item requiring reconstitution [...] The post Drug Tariff Watch – April 2026 appeared first on Community Pharmacy England.