Pharmacists charge mark-ups of 354pc on prescription medicines

4leto

upforit101 wrote: »

Chips are Food & food is a necessity, someone from the Irish independent said you can die if you don't eat.

But you don't have to eat from a chipper.

Chuck Stone

upforit101 wrote: »

Chips are Food & food is a necessity, someone from the Irish independent said you can die if you don't eat.

You just want me to eat loads of chips so I get high cholesterol so you can rip me off with the medicines isn't?


ISN'T IT?

Snakeblood

upforit101 wrote: »

Chips are Food & food is a necessity, someone from the Irish independent said you can die if you don't eat.

Just as well you can import food on Amazon.com.

4leto

RichieC wrote: »

in the local shops where my folks live there's two pharmacies beside each other.

That seems to be every business street in Dublin,

Shopping centres usually have at least 3. Funny enough they all charge the same prices, its a cartel.

spdmrphy

4leto wrote: »

I take the medicine the doctor prescribes. There isn't generic medicine for everything.

True, but why pay extra for the brand name when there is no difference in the composition of the tablet?

Insisting on the brand "because the doctor prescribed it" is idiocy in most cases. Granted, there will be differences in certain brands of the same product, eg lithium, some extended release preparations, but in these cases the generic would not be substituted.

Insisting on the brand is just insisting on paying the "idiot tax".

RichieC

4leto wrote: »

That seems to be every business street in Dublin,

Shopping centres usually have at least 3. Funny enough they all charge the same prices, its a cartel.

That doesn't blame the government enough.

Captain Darling

4leto wrote: »

I take the medicine the doctor prescribes. There isn't generic medicine for everything.

The doctor may prescribe you with an expensive version of a medicine. I've seen differences of up to twenty quid in the medicine my doctor prescribes. You are getting the same ingredients/drug but it may not be a popular brand.

All i'm saying is to ask the chemist for the cheapest generic version of the drug you have been prescribed.

4leto

spdmrphy wrote: »

True, but why pay extra for the brand name when there is no difference in the composition of the tablet?

Insisting on the brand "because the doctor prescribed it" is idiocy in most cases. Granted, there will be differences in certain brands of the same product, eg lithium, some extended release preparations, but in these cases the generic would not be substituted.

Insisting on the brand is just insisting on paying the "idiot tax".

Because of the placebo effect, I know it sounds silly, but when I am ill, I assume my doctor whom I trust has prescribed the very best medicines.

4leto

spdmrphy wrote: »

True, but why pay extra for the brand name when there is no difference in the composition of the tablet?

Insisting on the brand "because the doctor prescribed it" is idiocy in most cases. Granted, there will be differences in certain brands of the same product, eg lithium, some extended release preparations, but in these cases the generic would not be substituted.

Insisting on the brand is just insisting on paying the "idiot tax".

Because of the placebo effect, I know it sounds silly, but when I am ill, I assume my doctor whom I trust has prescribed the very best medicines.

upforit101

4leto wrote: »

But you don't have to eat from a chipper.

Food is a necessity Yes?
And you buy food from a supermarket Yes?
Then the government should dictate what mark ups are charged by say Tescos on Food.
Seeing as food is a necessity and a basic human right, Tescos should be obligated to provide it free of charge to everyone.
Only fair.

Snakeblood

upforit101 wrote: »

Food is a necessity Yes?
But you buy food from a supermarket Yes?
The government should dictate what mark ups are charged by say Tescos on Food?
Seeing as food is a necessity and a basic human right, Tescos should be obligated to provide it free of charge to everyone.

I hope you're better at dishing pills than you are at arguing.

4leto

upforit101 wrote: »

Food is a necessity Yes?
But you buy food from a supermarket Yes?
The government should dictate what mark ups are charged by say Tescos on Food?
Seeing as food is a necessity and a basic human right, Tescos should be obligated to provide it free of charge to everyone.

But the government does not subsidise the cost of food as they do with medicine, with the drugs payment scheme, your analogy is ridicules and totally unrelated.

If you think the chemist mark up based on subsidy and cartel is moral that's absurd.

spdmrphy

4leto wrote: »

Because of the placebo effect, I know it sounds silly, but when I am ill, I assume my doctor whom I trust has prescribed the very best medicines.

You're sure he hasn't just prescribed the medicine that has been pushed upon him by pharmaceutical sales reps?

Also, I think you're missing the point. The pharmacological response produced by a drug depends on the chemical entity it contains and pharmaceutical form in which it is presented.

Not the box that it is packaged in.

drdeadlift

upforit101 wrote: »

Food is a necessity Yes?
And you buy food from a supermarket Yes?
Then the government should dictate what mark ups are charged by say Tescos on Food.
Seeing as food is a necessity and a basic human right, Tescos should be obligated to provide it free of charge to everyone.
Only fair.

i havent been sick in nearly four years

4leto

spdmrphy wrote: »

You're sure he hasn't just prescribed the medicine that has been pushed upon him by pharmaceutical sales reps?

Also, I think you're missing the point. The pharmacological response produced by a drug depends on the chemical entity it contains and pharmaceutical form in which it is presented.

Not the box that it is packaged in.

Not really, especially true for anti depressant and pain meds, the placebo effect on the advertised brands have been clinically proven.

But I agree with some of your points.

Tea_Bag

Dude, am I the only one who can see through this cover-up?

The pharmacists did this study bro and released the results to the fascist rag mag, the independent, so that our blood would boil and we'd all have to get high blood pressure pills. that or they want to kill us all! its the corporations trying to control those who are not already on their sophisticated mind control pills, aka paracetamol. do you know anyone who doesn't take that ****, man? Bro that's why you get migraines. they're caused from ultra sonic waves generated by the NWO. Homie they use us like batteries to power their top secret nazi super tanks.

I think the Zionists are in on it too but I need more evidence. the occasional death threats I get lead me to believe I'm close. closer than a bomb and an Iraqi soldier.


will someone think of the children!?

upforit101

4leto wrote: »

But the government does not subsidise the cost of food as they do with medicine, with the drugs payment scheme, your analogy is ridicules and totally unrelated.

If you think the chemist mark up based on subsidy and cartel is moral that's absurd.

Isn't food a necessity and a basic human right?
If it is then the government should be involved in subsidising the distribution of food or provide food free of charge.
Tescos would do it no problem.

Captain Darling

Tea_Bag wrote: »

Dude, am I the only one who can see through this cover-up?

The pharmacists did this study bro and released the results to the fascist rag mag, the independent, so that our blood would boil and we'd all have to get high blood pressure pills. that or they want to kill us all! its the corporations trying to control those who are not already on their sophisticated mind control pills, aka paracetamol. do you know anyone who doesn't take that ****, man? Bro that's why you get migraines. they're caused from ultra sonic waves generated by the NWO. Homie they use us like batteries to power their top secret nazi super tanks.

I think the Zionists are in on it too but I need more evidence. the occasional death threats I get lead me to believe I'm close. closer than a bomb and an Iraqi soldier.


will someone think of the children!?

I think Bertie, the israelis, the americans and the banks may be in on it too.

4leto

upforit101 wrote: »

Isn't food a necessity and a basic human right?
therefore the government should be involved in subsidising the distribution of food or provide food free of charge.
Tescos would do it no problem.

Mother of gawd,,Tesco have real competition, its cut throat, pharmacies do not because its a cartel and the most people have to pay is 150 euro a month. So the pharmacist passes on most the mark ups to the taxpayer.

But glad to see we are finally copping on, I think cutting the mark up to chemist would be a very popular and easy cutback the government could make.

Will I find out what a pharmacist earns because I think its about 80grand a year.

upforit101

Jay Z wanted to be a Pharmacist, Jay Z is in the Illuminati (allegedly).
The Illuminati are connected to Satan
Pharmacists are Satanists.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RR3NWgsr6oY

No that's horsecrap, Pharmacists are Sado-Masochists.

upforit101

4leto wrote: »

Mother of gawd,,Tesco have real competition, its cut throat, pharmacies do not because its a cartel and the most people have to pay is 150 euro a month. So the pharmacist passes on most the mark ups to the taxpayer.

But glad to see we are finally copping on, I think cutting the mark up to chemist would be a very popular and easy cutback the government could make.

Will I find out what a pharmacist earns because I think its about 80grand a year.

B***s**t on all counts.

TheZohanS

Firstly it's the pharmacy not the pharmacist that sets the price of drugs in the store. Secondly the majority of pharmacy shops are not owned by pharmacists, they're regular business owners, they just have to have a pharmacist present by law to dispense.

ceegee

4leto wrote: »

upforit101 wrote: »

Isn't food a necessity and a basic human right?
therefore the government should be involved in subsidising the distribution of food or provide food free of charge.
Tescos would do it no problem.

Mother of gawd,,Tesco have real competition, its cut throat, pharmacies do not because its a cartel and the most people have to pay is 150 euro a month. So the pharmacist passes on most the mark ups to the taxpayer.

But glad to see we are finally copping on, I think cutting the mark up to chemist would be a very popular and easy cutback the government could make.

Will I find out what a pharmacist earns because I think its about 80grand a year.

The markup passed on to the tax payer is 20% (stated clearly in the article)
plus a 5 euro dispensing fee per item. If a patient is on 4 drugs with acombined coat price of €200 the HSE pays 240+20 -120 (paid by patient) = 140

If, for example, a pharmacy applied a 1000% markup to patients, the hse will still only pay the 20% + fee. So pharmacies only get a higher markup on the 120 a month paid by each household.

Re pharmacy wages, youve probably added on a similiar markup to the figure as most pharmacys do to drugs.

TheyKnowMyIP

But I thought doctors aren't profit hungry:rolleyes:

4leto

ceegee wrote: »

The markup passed on to the tax payer is 20% (stated clearly in the article)
plus a 5 euro dispensing fee per item. If a patient is on 4 drugs with acombined coat price of €200 the HSE pays 240+20 -120 (paid by patient) = 140

If, for example, a pharmacy applied a 1000% markup to patients, the hse will still only pay the 20% + fee. So pharmacies only get a higher markup on the 120 a month paid by each household.

Re pharmacy wages, youve probably added on a similiar markup to the figure as most pharmacys do to drugs.

I don't get you, are you saying that the government pay a further 20% on the drugs already marked up by the pharmacy. And a fiver,

SeaFields

Some tips...

It may not be possible in the case of getting antibiotics for a child at the last minute but if you are on a long term medication ring around a few pharmacies and ask how much is a months supply. The variation will be obvious. And as been said repeatedly here, ask for generic when possible.

Don't buy into the pharmacy holding onto your repeat prescription and dispensing it at a phonecall as a good service either. It just locks you into their price and you may find cheaper elsewhere.

If you can afford to buy in bulk for an item i.e. the pill, get the full six months. This saves on the dispensing fee you pay for the other 5 months (Some medicines are only dispensed on a monthly basis however)

Sometimes a medicine is available OTC but the doctor has written it on the script e.g. if you went to him/her with a tummy bug they may put motillium among others down on the script. If you buy it OTC you again save on the dispensing fee. Its a rarity but it does happen so check your script.

Hope these tips help some boardies

TheZohanS

4leto wrote: »

I don't get you, are you saying that the government pay a further 20% on the drugs already marked up by the pharmacy. And a fiver,

No, just 20% on top of cost/wholesale price to the pharmacy.

ceegee

4leto wrote: »

ceegee wrote: »

The markup passed on to the tax payer is 20% (stated clearly in the article)
plus a 5 euro dispensing fee per item. If a patient is on 4 drugs with acombined coat price of €200 the HSE pays 240+20 -120 (paid by patient) = 140

If, for example, a pharmacy applied a 1000% markup to patients, the hse will still only pay the 20% + fee. So pharmacies only get a higher markup on the 120 a month paid by each household.

Re pharmacy wages, youve probably added on a similiar markup to the figure as most pharmacys do to drugs.

I don't get you, are you saying that the government pay a further 20% on the drugs already marked up by the pharmacy. And a fiver,

Sorry by cost price i meant cost to pharmacy (as set by hse)

HSE pays 1.2x this price plus a disp fee minus the 120 euro paid by patient.

e.g.

Drug x costs pharmacy 100 euro/month to buy in.

Patient pays 120
HSE pays 5

dx22

Sensationalist nonsense by a rubbish newspaper as usual, small items in shops have disproportionately higher markups than say a large item like a car. 300% MARK UP SHOCK HORROR headlines is not as terrible when you realise that this figure might relate to say aspirin for example that costs 1 euro and the pharmacist sells for 4 euros, that's lot of aspirin that the pharmacist will have to sell to cover someones even one persons wages.

As far as i know the pharmacy market is completely opened up now to anyone who wants to give it a go and hire a pharmacist to work for them, so whoever is complaining do something about it by opening your own pharmacy.There's no cartel or conspiracy...the prices are a level that is required to do business and make a living.

I agree about the argument about the generic drugs, that is the government and industry regulators jobs to sort out.

Pharmacy and other types of small business are the ones keeping the country afloat by paying wages, tax, collecting VAT, and PRSI. Journalists should go attack to overinflated public service pay and benefits, or go after the property developers,politicians and bankers who f*cked everything up

Im not affiliated with pharmacy in any way just giving my 2cents as a small business owner...rant over...now where is my methadone gone

Chuck Stone

Medical card service users should be prescribed generic medicines where possible.

Biggins

http://www.thejournal.ie/union-criticises-flawed-newspaper-report-on-pharmacy-mark-ups-256236-Oct2011/

Union criticises ‘flawed’ newspaper report on pharmacy mark-ups

THE IRISH PHARMACIES UNION has criticised a newspaper report which claimed that some Irish chemists were imposing a mark-up of up to 354 per cent on some prescription drugs.
Today’s Irish Independent reported that some some prescription medicines cost significantly more in the Republic of Ireland than in the North because of the mark-ups being charged by pharmacists.

It carried details of one drug – Pfizer’s anti-cholesterol drug Lipitor – which cost over €65 in the Republic, but less than €49 in the North – a far greater gap than the wholesale prices for the drug in each jurisdiction.

The IPU this afternoon criticised the report, describing it as “flawed” because it did not consider the aspects of a pharmacist’s business other than the supply of medicine to private patients.
The union said pharmacists were operating “on a wafer-thin margin, with one in five pharmacists operating at a loss”.

In 2009, it said, the average pharmacist recorded a net profit of around four per cent of their total turnover – a figure which was likely to have fallen in the meantime.
The union accused the article of also ignoring the volume of medicines dispensed to people with medical cards – for which pharmacists receive a basic dispensing fee, but no actual mark-up on the drug being sold.

“Pharmacy remains a profession under massive pressure and suffering huge Government interference and the outlook for the profession remains very challenging,” the union said.
The Independent’s article carried criticisms from the HSE and the Consumers’ Association of Ireland, with the latter describing prices in Irish pharmacies as “outrageously high”.

I still have an open mind.

Rawhead

dx22 wrote: »

Sensationalist nonsense by a rubbish newspaper as usual, small items in shops have disproportionately higher markups than say a large item like a car. 300% MARK UP SHOCK HORROR headlines is not as terrible when you realise that this figure might relate to say aspirin for example that costs 1 euro and the pharmacist sells for 4 euros, that's lot of aspirin that the pharmacist will have to sell to cover someones even one persons wages.

As far as i know the pharmacy market is completely opened up now to anyone who wants to give it a go and hire a pharmacist to work for them, so whoever is complaining do something about it by opening your own pharmacy.There's no cartel or conspiracy...the prices are a level that is required to do business and make a living.

I agree about the argument about the generic drugs, that is the government and industry regulators jobs to sort out.

Pharmacy and other types of small business are the ones keeping the country afloat by paying wages, tax, collecting VAT, and PRSI. Journalists should go attack to overinflated public service pay and benefits, or go after the property developers,politicians and bankers who f*cked everything up

Im not affiliated with pharmacy in any way just giving my 2cents as a small business owner...rant over...now where is my methadone gone

Poor hard done by professions. They have had to carry the burden of self regulation, restrictive/protectionist practises and powerful political influence over the last 80 years.
The doctors, lawyers, barristers, pharmacists, accountants etc feathered their own nests like everyone else. I'm not saying they caused the mess but to try and cry the poor mouth is a bit rich.

dx22

Rawhead wrote: »

Poor hard done by professions. They have had to carry the burden of self regulation, restrictive/protectionist practises and powerful political influence over the last 80 years.
The doctors, lawyers, barristers, pharmacists, accountants etc feathered their own nests like everyone else. I'm not saying they caused the mess but to try and cry the poor mouth is a bit rich.

I totally agree with you here, some professions are very protectionist and inaccessible, however AFAIK pharmacy was deregulated many years ago and is an open and competitive market, if someone doesn't like the prices -shop elsewhere or open your own pharmacy.

As far as the Independent is concerned; report the news instead and leave that sensationalist sh1t for Joe Duffy.

68Murph68

When's the last time you've heard of a pharmacy or chemists going burst?

The prices we pay in Ireland compared to abroad are insane.

Had older relatives on serious amounts of drugs and the savings in buying them
on holidays in Spain were nearly enough to pay for a flight to Spain and back.

Also if you know anyone involved in the drug rep business they will tell you all about the conferences/weekends away at top resorts organised by drug companies that doctors get taken away to for free. Wonder why the drug companies do this?

dx22

When's the last time you've heard of a pharmacy or chemists going burst?

Google 'pharmacy closing/closed' or similar for examples. You just never noticed as no-one gives a sh1t when this type of business closes

The prices we pay in Ireland compared to abroad are insane.

I agree the cost of doing business in Ireland needs to be reduced and pass on the consumer if we are to be competitive in the future

Had older relatives on serious amounts of drugs and the savings in buying them
on holidays in Spain were nearly enough to pay for a flight to Spain and back.

Agreed see point above

Also if you know anyone involved in the drug rep business they will tell you all about the conferences/weekends away at top resorts organised by drug companies that doctors get taken away to for free. Wonder why the drug companies do this?

That happens in every industry...its called networking, it sometimes is good as it creates collaboration and innovation...its sometimes is bad when it is creates elitist greed and gluttony (see galway tent)

ejmaztec

As I understand from the last time that this came up, the reason for Irish prices being so feckin high, is something to do with Ireland being a major base for pharmaceutical manufacturing, and for some strange, odd peculiar reason, known only to them, they don't allow Irish consumers to benefit from the same lower prices that are available overseas.

TheZohanS

Alicat wrote: »

I think you'll find a high percentage of pharmacists are on nowhere NEAR that wage. Back in the old day maybe. Now, I'd halve

A newly qualified pharmacist earns about €25-30k

Paddy Samurai

68Murph68 wrote: »

When's the last time you've heard of a pharmacy or chemists going burst?

The prices we pay in Ireland compared to abroad are insane.

Had older relatives on serious amounts of drugs and the savings in buying them
on holidays in Spain were nearly enough to pay for a flight to Spain and back.

Also if you know anyone involved in the drug rep business they will tell you all about the conferences/weekends away at top resorts organised by drug companies that doctors get taken away to for free. Wonder why the drug companies do this?

There's rewards for doctors and pharmacies to encourage them to sell certain brands/drugs.I was standing in a pharmacy one day as the staff were putting up advertising for a new cough bottle.The boss was telling them there was a trip to vienna if they reached their target.

Alicat

TheZohan wrote: »

A newly qualified pharmacist earns about €25-30k

I was thinking they were getting a 'good' wage at about 40k, but I haven't seen one as low as 25k!

LighterGuy

Citywest111 wrote: »

http://www.independent.ie/health/health-news/pharmacists-charge-markups-of-354pc-on-prescription-medicines-2907841.html

Its terrible alright.
We're not talking about cough medicine here. Basically they are making money off people who are sick and need those drugs.

It is wrong. And if anyone who says otherwise is an as*hole. Or maybe its the typical "well doesnt effect me, im alright jack" mentality. Same person who'll bitch and moan about other services tho.

kincsem

ballsymchugh wrote: »

to clarify that....

they charge up to 354%.
that could be one pharmacy selling one particular drug at such a mark up.

It only a 78% profit margin.

See what I did? I made it look smaller, and almost not worth bothering about.
Cost 100, mark up 354, price 454, margin 354/454=78% of sales.

ceegee

Out of interest what do people feel would be an appropriate mark-up on medication?

kincsem

50% added to cost (=33% of sales price) should yield a good profit in most businesses.

In my local pharmacy (very small floor area) they have about five staff, about half in cosmetics/non-prescription. Big margins support big staff numbers, big pay rates, and big profits for the owners. This pharmacy is in a very high rent shopping centre.

bleg

I'm a pharmacist not working in retail pharmacy i.e. a non-practising pharmacist.

Anybody know how much mark up a pharmacy makes on the vast majority of their dispensed items?

They don't, they actually make a loss.

For medical card prescriptions pharmacies are reimbursed less than the cost price (which is set by the HSE & drug company) With a dispensing fee of €3.50 - 5 depending on the number of items dispensed by the pharmacy in that month.

Unfortunately the private patients have to cross subsidise the loss making medical card business of a pharmacy. Comparisons to other countries are irrelevant as they will have different community drug schemes (if any) and different health systems and indeed taxation systems. Some EU countries have state owned pharmacies.

This study only looked at the chains in Ireland. Your independent pharmacy is the best and often the least expensive place to go to for your meds in my opinion.


Remember that papers will make outrageous claims like this in order to sell papers. Do a little digging and you will find the truth:

1. Pharmacists are pushing for lower healthcare costs by providing additional services in the pharmacy for a lower price, freeing up time for hospitals and GPs.
2. You can get free, expert advice from a highly qualified (5 years training) healthcare professional any time your local pharmacy is open. Pick up the phone and give a ring. The pharmacist will charge you nothing for advice. We love being asked because it gives us a chance to use our skills and knowledge.
3. Pharmacists are pushing for generic substitution and reference pricing which will reduce the overall drugs budget for all of us.
4. For the first time pharmacists will be giving flu vaccines at a cost less than GPs.

These points are being pushed by pharmacists but the (former GP) Health Minister, other healthcare professionals and regulatory and licencing bodies are dragging their heels.



The HSE launched their influenza strategy today. This article was impeccably timed to steal the limelight from pharmacists, who no doubt would have been getting positive press for providing the vaccine cheaply, instead we're on the defensive. Who could have possibly stood to gain from such a pre emptive strike.

darkmaster2

The Irish medicine board IMB are a big part of the problem. They actively block cheaper generic medicine availablity in this country. And what is more they are being funded by the pharmacutical industry themselves. They do not seem to act in the consumers interests.

http://leoniefennell.wordpress.com/2011/08/07/the-irish-medicines-board-e27-million-funding-from-the-pharmaceutical-industry/

There is a lot more to this than greedy pharmacists..

bleg

kincsem wrote: »

50% added to cost (=33% of sales price) should yield a good profit in most businesses.

In my local pharmacy (very small floor area) they have about five staff, about half in cosmetics/non-prescription. Big margins support big staff numbers, big pay rates, and big profits for the owners. This pharmacy is in a very high rent shopping centre.

Well for the majority of dispensed items it's actually less than 50% (and around -6% for Medical card prescriptions.) For items above €120 on the DPS the mark up is 20% - as set by former Minister Harney using the FEMPI legislation.

Up to €120 is an open and free market and the pharmacy, like any other business in a free open market, can charge what ever mark up they want (in the pharmacies I worked in it was 20-50%). The Competition Authority has been sniffing around this for years and they can't intervene (to force a mark-up) for to do so would be anti competitive.

Also, pharmacy is the most open profession in Ireland. Any EU pharmacist can practice here and any EU citizen can open a pharmacy here. Hence the proliferation of chains including foreign chains such as Unicare/DocMorris, Boots and Tesco pharmacy.

bleg

darkmaster2 wrote: »

The irish medicine board are a big part of the problem. They actively block cheaper generic medicine availablity in this country. And what is more they are being funded by the pharmacutical industry themselves.

http://leoniefennell.wordpress.com/2011/08/07/the-irish-medicines-board-e27-million-funding-from-the-pharmaceutical-industry/

There is a lot more to this than greedy pharmacists..

For what it's worth, when I practised I always suggested a generic, where possible. Even for OTC remedies.


There are some greedy pharmacists, same as there are greedy people in any industry. Most are just hardworking professionals trying to do the best for their patients, family and business.

ebixa82

Pharmacists charge:

a) 0% mark up on GMS scripts, just a dispensing fee as agreed with HSE of between 3-5 euro.

b) 20% on DPS scripts as agreed contractually by the HSE.

c) 50% on private Rxs plus a dispensing fee of 3-5 euro

Theses ludicrous figures are bullsh.it made up by a tabloid rag like the Indo.

The reason they are more expensive is because the cost prices from the wholesaler are so much more expensive than other countries. This is what needs to be addressed.

People bang on here about the place being flooded with pharmacies. With saturation of market share comes competition.

If any Pharmacy was stupid enough to increase mark up to above 50% then they would simply drive customers to other shops.

Note to general public: Don't believe every thing you read in tabloids!

Some knob came into me trying to kick off today, just looking for an arguement. I laughed in his face when he told me to read the Indo. No fcukin chance would I read or believe anything from that rag.

It's a shame the general public can be so gullible/stupid.

jive

Strong ignorance in this thread and skewed figures in that article.

Pharmacists usually make a loss on dispensed items (~10% or so).

Pharmacists give free advice. You'd be hard pushed to get free, professional advice off anyone else who took a minimum of 5 years just to become qualified.

There are large numbers of patients in pharmacies who require blister packs which contain their medication for each week - morning, afternoon, evening and night time. These are done free of charge and the materials to put them together aren't free.

Don't kid yourselves thinking it's a cartel. Don't you think a huge chain like Boots could just undercut everyone else and rake it in as a result? There's a reason why the prices are what they are. If you think large chains are in collaboration with local pharmacies then you are kidding yourselves, it's genuinely laughable. Have a look at some larger national chains e.g. McCauley's who have 20+ shops in Munster/Leinster and see how much they net each year.

If you can buy your medicine cheaper elsewhere then do but don't think it's because every pharmacy owner in the country is marking stuff up by 300%. I think it's funny that in such a competitive industry people actually believed that pharmacies 'get away with it'.

(in before spot the pharmacist, I'm not one nor would I ever want to be one due to the ignorance of the general public towards the profession).

Sauve

I work in pharmacy too, and not one single drug is sold at a mark-up of over 50%.
Previous posters have stated the mark-up on the schemes that they run, and it's the same in my place and everywhere else that I know of.
What came out in the paper today was nothing short of lies.
We went through the prices they gave in the paper, and they neither matched those on the HSE (pcrs) website, nor our own prices.
Don't believe everything you read, find out the truth for yourselves.