The Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee (PSNC) said it is "pleased" that another 15 items have been granted concessionary prices for February (see below).

However, "the time being taken to make concession announcements" is adding to the "enormous pressure" contractors are facing, PSNC director of pharmacy funding Mike Dent stressed.

The negotiator announced last month that the DH is trialling a new concessionary prices system, "based on gathering timely data from manufacturers".

"PSNC will continue to press the need for improvements to the system to be made," Mr Dent said in a statement last Friday (March 9).

"Contractors must not carry unreasonable costs on behalf of the NHS."

An initial 38 items received February concessionary prices on February 26, followed by a further 16 announced the following week.