Endorsing COVID Medication - May 2025

When you dispense centrally procured stock of Paxlovid® from the NHS in May, the prescriptions (electronic and paper) must include the NCSO endorsement and you will be reimbursed £2.50 per pack in accordance with Part VIIIC(i) of the May Drug Tariff.

Commercial stock of Paxlovid® is now available to order from Pfizer via Alliance Healthcare, but this is charged at the full NHS list price. If you supply commercial stock of Paxlovid®, you will be reimbursed the NHS list price as published by the manufacturer on the dictionary of medicines and devices (dm+d). No endorsement is needed on prescriptions supplying commercially purchased Paxlovid®.

As soon as possible it is recommended that you check your NCSO endorsement settings, see Check NCSO Endorsement Settings.

See also:

Check NCSO Endorsement Settings

As soon as possible, check your endorsement settings:

  1. From the Pharmacy Manager Search bar select the drop-down arrow and select Product.

  2. Search for and select 'Nirmatrelvir 150mg/Ritonavir 100mg Tabs'.

  3. Select Details .

  4. The Product Details screen displays, select the Endorsing tab.

  5. Under NCSO Details, make sure the NCSO drop-down is set to Never.

  6. Repeat the above steps for 'Paxlovid 150mg/100mg Tablets'.

Endorsing an Item on a Paper Prescription as NCSO

To dispense centrally secured stock of Nirmatrelvir 150mg tablets and Ritonavir 100mg tablets (Paxlovid 150mg/100mg tablets) obtained free of charge on a paper prescription:

  1. Populate the following details as normal:

    • Patient

    • Prescriber

    • No. Items

    • Prescription Type (change if required)

    • Written as

  2. Select Information next to Written as to open the Product Details screen.

  3. Select the Endorsing tab.

  4. Under NCSO Details, use the drop-down to set NCSO to Sometimes.

  5. Select Endorse .

  6. The Endorsements screen displays.

    Ensure the following settings are populated:

    • NCSO:

      • Pharmacist initials

      • Pack Size

      • Text

    • Net ingredient cost (exc. VAT) - Enter '250'.

  7. Select OK .

  8. Continue to dispense the items as normal.

  9. When you finish the dispense, the Dispensary Supply screen displays with the NCSO endorsement applied.

    Training Tip - If the Dispensary Supply screen does not display, hand endorse the prescription as NCSO.
  10. Insert the paper prescription into the endorsement printer and select Print and OK .

  11. From the Pharmacy Manager Search bar select the drop-down arrow and select Product.

  12. Search for the item you just dispensed and select Details .

  13. The Product Details screen displays, select the Endorsing tab and using the drop-down, set NCSO back to Never.

Endorsing an Item on an Electronic Prescription as NCSO

To dispense centrally secured stock of Nirmatrelvir 150mg tablets and Ritonavir 100mg tablets (Paxlovid 150mg/100mg tablets) obtained free of charge on an electronic prescription:

  1. Select the item to dispense from either the eMessages or Prescriptions - New screens and select Dispense.

  2. The Dispensary screen displays, press Enter on your keyboard to search for the prescribed item.

  3. Select Information next to Written as to open the Product Details screen.

  4. Select the Endorsing tab.

  5. Under NCSO Details, set the NCSO drop-down to Sometimes.

  6. Select Endorse .

  7. The Endorsements screen displays.

    Ensure the following settings are populated:

    • NCSO:

      • Pharmacist initials

      • Pack Size

      • Text

    • Net ingredient cost (exc. VAT) - Enter '250'.

  8. Select OK .

  9. Finish the dispense as normal.

  10. The Dispensary Supply screen displays with the NCSO endorsement applied.

  11. Select Confirm .

  12. From the Pharmacy Manager Search bar select the drop-down arrow and select Product.

  13. Search for the item you just dispensed and select Details .

  14. The Product Details screen displays, select the Endorsing tab and using the drop-down, set NCSO back to Never.