By Dr Philip Koopowitz – Director Dispex
Dispensing doctors are once again left with a decrease in income from April 2026 as the Dispensing Fee per item will decrease by just over 6 pence per item, when compared to the Dispensing Fees from October 2025 to March 2026. If your practice dispenses 4,000 items a month, you will get remunerated £240 less per month over the next 6 months.
The complex way that the calculations for Dispensing Fees are done will continue to have a negative effect as long as the number of items dispensed by dispensing and non-dispensing doctors in total outstrips the expected number of items. With an increasing elderly population, the media’s drive for patients to attend their GP for any and everything as well as the understandable pressure for preventative therapy, there is no way that the overall number of items will decrease any time soon. The Dispensing Fee calculations have passed their sell-by date and the NHS needs to consider fairer options to ensure the survival of dispensing by doctors, which is now even more important as the number of pharmacies closing decreases choice for all patients. The vast majority of dispensing practices recycle their income into providing a range of clinical services.
With a potential loss of close to £3,000 per annum, now is the time for dispensing practices to review their dispensing and assess their current profitability. Dispex offers bespoke Profitability reviews by Dr Philip Koopowitz, which include on-site visits and assessments, using ePACT data, analysing drug statements and looking at purchasing options. Contact training@dispex.net for further information.
