Specials (unlicensed) products

[howe928]

Co-proxamol, Simvastatin oral suspension, Atorvastatin oral suspension

1a) do you order special in advanced for a regular customer?
1b) is it legally allright to do so?
2) do you give an owing ticket if you do not stock this or just ask patient to come back few days later

[DavidS]

1a No.
1b no idea
2 Sops usually ask for owing ticket.

[shan]

Co-proxamol, Simvastatin oral suspension, Atorvastatin oral suspension

1a) do you order special in advanced for a regular customer? Regular customer whom we deliver YES, others no
1b) is it legally allright to do so?If the GP is aware that this is a special item, then why would that be illegal??
2) do you give an owing ticket if you do not stock this or just ask patient to come back few days laterNormally we don't for a regular customer, new customer then inform him the time it may take and give an owing slip

Shan

[LeftArm]

A man goes into his local chemist with a prescription. He has a very rare disease and the Doctor has prescribed some special capsules for him. He hands the prescription to the Pharmacist who looks at it quizzically. “We don’t see scripts for these very often” he notes “You must have a very rare disease indeed”. “Yes I do” says the man “and the Doctor has told me I must take them every month”. “I will order them in for you for tomorrow” advises the Pharmacist and the man leaves.
The next day the man returns to the shop. “Good morning” the Pharmacist greets him. “Here are the special capsules for your very rare disease,” he says handing over the man’s prescription. “Will you have them for me next month” enquires the man “as the Doctor has told me to take them every month” “Yes” says the pharmacist “I will order them in specially for you”. “In that case I will come to this Pharmacy and no other says the man, delighted with the exceptional level of service.
The next month the man, as good as his word, returns to the pharmacy for the special capsules for his very rare disease. Again, he is delighted with the exceptional level of service as his prescription is completed in less than five minutes.
The man continues to visit the pharmacy for his special capsules every month without fail for twelve months in total.
On the thirteenth month, the man returns to the pharmacy. “Good afternoon Sir, you must have come for your special capsules for your very rare disease” chimes the Pharmacist. “No” says the man “I have come to tell you that, thanks to the special capsules, I am now cured of my very rare disease and will no longer have to visit your fine pharmacy each month to collect them.”
“I am pleased to hear it.” Responds the Pharmacist, “Those capsules are very special indeed are they not.” “Yes they are and I have you and the special capsules to thank for my recovery” calls the man as he leaves the pharmacy for the last time.

Assuming that:
Special capsules cost £25 for 1 months supply
Wholesaler discount is 10%
The NHS deduction is 11% (Clawback)
The Professional fee is 90pence

How much profit has the Pharmacist earned for his services to this special customer?

[GAZ]

If I was a manager/proprietor (i'm a locum) i would tend to only order in when you see the script - you can train your regulars to either phone you in advance of ordering script or to give you advanced notice that Rx is ready and they still have a weeks supply left -
what you want to avoid is a possibility (and this has happened) that the hospital/gp change Rx without you or patients been made aware & then you may be stuck with a (possibly) short dated (possibly expensive?) special which you may not be able to return to the supplier??
If it's a special that you more frequently supply for your patient's (eg co-proxamol) then you may want to deal with this slightly differently (eg order in; small quantites though) BUT prescribers can very easily change their minds!!

[DavidS]

Assuming that:
Special capsules cost £25 for 1 months supply
Wholesaler discount is 10%
The NHS deduction is 11% (Clawback)
The Professional fee is 90pence

How much profit has the Pharmacist earned for his services to this special customer?

I don't think there's any wholesaler discount on specials.
£25 seems a bit cheap, as well.
But the point is well made.

NOT a bedtime story! (Melatonin, anyone?)

[johnep]

We had a Dr who told his pts that Mist Gent Alk (Gentian Mixture Alkaline), was highly concentrated and they should only take a teaspoonful twice a day. Suspect the 'special' capsules were fluoxetine or similar.
johnep

[JonF]

The last special I ordered cost over £300 (amlodipine suspension). I've 'trained' the customer to let me know a week in advance of them needing it. There ain't a cat in hells chance I'm keeping that in stock for someone!!

[shan]

I don't think there's any wholesaler discount on specials. -- If you stick to one supplier like colorama for example, you can strike a deal of up to 50 % discount and I am not joking
£25 seems a bit cheap, as well.
But the point is well made.

NOT a bedtime story! (Melatonin, anyone?)

Shan

[mrmeds]

I order 20 x 200ml Indoped suspension as a special for a regular customer, they're trained to give me plenty of notice. Supplier A charge about £1300 . Last time I used a different supplier, and they charged around £650.... hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm be carful with those specials folks !