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A total of 268 drug price concessions were granted for the month of September, with the National Pharmacy Association describing the development as “alarming”.

Revealing the final concessions tally for September, Community Pharmacy England said: “The total remains significant and includes high-volume, commonly prescribed treatments for hypertension, high cholesterol, diabetes, antibiotics for infections, and more.

“It takes time for the Department of Health and Social Care to consider and announce decisions on so many products. This leaves pharmacy owners unsure whether a concession will be granted.

“It increases the risk that pharmacy owners will need to purchase medicines without knowing the price they will be reimbursed, adding further strain to already stretched businesses.”

CPE research director James Davies added: “We need a reimbursement system that responds more quickly and fairly to real market conditions, alongside decisive action to improve medicines supply resilience. In the meantime, every above-Tariff price report strengthens the evidence we can take to Government, and our forthcoming webinar will give pharmacy teams a further opportunity to share their experiences and hear how we are pressing for change.”

National Pharmacy Association chief executive Henry Gregg said: "It is deeply alarming that we have seen yet another month of record-breaking price concessions due to a very volatile medicines supply market.

"This is yet more evidence of a system that is creaking at the seams and in desperate need of reform by the government.

"All too often, even price concessions fail to reflect the true value of ordering a medicine and will still force a pharmacy into dispense an item at a loss.

"Price concessions can in some cases also be an early indicator of shortages, which we know blight patients and pharmacies alike.

"It is a scandal that all too often pharmacies are subsidising the cost of the nations medicines.

“We want to work with the government to address this situation and make long awaited reforms to the pharmacy contract."