Helping you get Pharmacy First Scotland claims approved

This page is for community pharmacies and anyone responsible for dispensing medicines and submitting Pharmacy First Scotland (PFS) claims for payment. It provides practical support to help you get claims approved and reduce rejected items.

Download and print the Pharmacy First Scotland best practice leaflet to display in your workspace.

Simple steps to avoid items being rejected for payment

Before you submit a Pharmacy First Scotland claim, take a few simple steps to reduce the risk of rejection.

1. Check the approved list

The system processes Pharmacy First Scotland items using the Scottish Drug Tariff Part 17 Approved Products List. You must record the item you supply and select the pack size exactly as they appear on the Approved List. If the wording or pack size does not exactly match, the claim will be rejected.

Access the guidance here: Scottish Drug Tariff: Part 17

Make sure the label and the claim match the wording used on the Approved List. If an item is listed generically, use the generic name on the label and claim. If it is listed as a branded product, use the branded name. Some eligible items are not available in all NHS Board areas due to local prescribing guidance. This most often affects dermatology items and antibiotics, so always check your local rules.

2. Check pack size for dressings and medicines

Make sure the pack size you supply matches the approved pack size shown in the Scottish Drug Tariff Part 17 Approved Products List. If the pack size does not exactly match, the claim will be rejected even if the item itself is approved.

3. Do not ignore PMR system warnings

Act on warning messages shown by your PMR system during claiming. Do not click through without checking them properly. These warnings often highlight issues that will lead to rejection if you submit the claim without fixing them.

Most common errors

The top 25 Pharmacy First Scotland errors relate to the item or the pack size not being allowed on the Approved List. The most common errors are highlighted in the list below, with the rejection reason confirmed in the far right-hand column.

Top 25 Pharmacy First Scotland item rejections

Please review these common errors and update your local in-house instructions where needed to help avoid them.

Items that are rejected despite being eligible

Average value adjustments for Pharmacy First Scotland rejected items stopped after the January 2026 dispensing month. Final average adjustments were made and these were documented in the April 2026 eSchedule. A small number (less than 150 claims across Scotland) of Pharmacy First items remain rejected despite being eligible for payment. A system change is being implemented; however, until this is applied, an adjustment for these items (from February 2026 dispensing onwards) will be applied on a line-by-line basis using the actual item payable price. These transactions will appear in your May 2026 eSchedule, and monthly thereafter. Please note this issue is distinct from the majority of Pharmacy First Scotland rejections, which are valid against the current Scottish Drug Tariff Part 17 formulary.

In addition, there has been an agreement reached between Scottish Government, Community Pharmacy Scotland and Public Services Delivery Scotland (PSDS) to reduce Pharmacy First rejections for dressings caused by pack size restrictions. The system will recognise equivalent pack sizes for the same product so contractors receive payment where the supply is appropriate. This change improves payment accuracy and reduces avoidable rejections. It does not change clinical eligibility. Further information will be shared once this change has been confirmed and the timelines are known.

The Rejected Items Report

The Rejected Items Report is part of your eSchedule report suite. It is issued monthly to your designated recipient and shows each rejected item and the reason for rejection. To avoid rejected items, you should always check both the pack size and the drug against the formulary before submitting a claim. Reviewing the report regularly helps you spot patterns, correct errors and improve claiming accuracy. Check rejection reasons carefully and update your processes where required. We encourage you to check all rejections against the Approved List before raising queries.

What to do if you have a rejected item

If you receive a rejected item, please verify it against the Scottish Drug Tariff Part 17 Approved Products List. Where the rejected item matches the formulary description exactly (including description, pack size, etc.), please send the completed PFS Rejection Enquiry Excel spreadsheet to the inbox below using your NHS email address.

NSS.SDPaymentEnquirySolutions@nhs.scot

An analysis will then be undertaken, and you will be advised of the appropriate adjustment payment or confirmation of rejection reason.

Need help

If you have a query about a rejected item that is not covered on this page and needs follow-up, contact us by email at: NSS.SDPaymentEnquirySolutions@nhs.scot