I don't understand this - maybe you can explain?I find the price differential baffling and assume that it's the expensive downside of Ireland having so many pharma manufacturing companies in the country.
I used to do this until Covid restrictions cut back my travels. My mother in law the recommended a pharmacy chain called Pure. They are much cheaper than other chemists in my experience. Worth a look to see if you can save on your prescription costsThe Missus and I are just back from our annual holiday in the Algarve.
While there, we filled 12 months' of our prescriptions; prescriptions that would have cost about €840 in Ireland, but cost only €280 in Portugal.
So our saving was in the region of €560. And allowing for the 20% tax refund on the cost of medications, the net saving was about €400.
The cost of our two return flights was under €400, so the saving paid for our holiday flights! I find the price differential baffling and assume that it's the expensive downside of Ireland having so many pharma manufacturing companies in the country.
It's currently possible to book a return flight from Dublin to Faro for less than €55 (I didn't bother checking Lisbon or Porto). Anyone with a significant monthly medication bill should seriously consider enjoying a short break abroad, paid for by the saving on their medications!
I used to do this until Covid restrictions cut back my travels. My mother in law the recommended a pharmacy chain called Pure. They are much cheaper than other chemists in my experience. Worth a look to see if you can save on your prescription costs
I don't understand this - maybe you can explain?
That theory doesn't really make any sense, The HSE and/or the government has no function whatsoever in dictating the prices at which Lidl or Tesco for example can sell paracetemol.I wish I could!
As I understand it, some government body (possibly within the HSE?) is responsible for negotiating the selling price of drugs in Ireland with the Pharm companies. And, it would appear, many of them play hardball with the said negotiation body on the basis of their presence in Ireland.
Yup, it's a sweetener to the Pharma companies you threaten to leave Ireland if the can't get a "good" price
This is baloney, of course, the excess profits on their Irish sales would be minimal in a European context
I wish I could!
As I understand it, some government body (possibly within the HSE?) is responsible for negotiating the selling price of drugs in Ireland with the Pharm companies. And, it would appear, many of them play hardball with the said negotiation body on the basis of their presence in Ireland.
Yup, it's a sweetener to the Pharma companies you threaten to leave Ireland if the can't get a "good" price
This is baloney, of course, the excess profits on their Irish sales would be minimal in a European context
The low DoH/HSE reimbursement may affect the market so companies try to make bigger margins when supplying the retail sector, driving up over-the-counter prices.That theory doesn't really make any sense, The HSE and/or the government has no function whatsoever in dictating the prices at which Lidl or Tesco for example can sell paracetemol.
Accepted but none of that explains eg how Poundland/Dealz seem incapable of remotely replicating their 3 packs for £1 deals on own-brand paracetemol in the Republic, while almost everything else in their £1 product range in Northern Ireland can be picked up down here for €1.50.The low DoH/HSE reimbursement may affect the market so companies try to make bigger margins when supplying the retail sector, driving up over-the-counter prices.
Wholesalers also take a cut and there is a distribution oligopoly in Ireland.
One of the biggest factors is pharmacy mark-ups with huge variations between stores. There is such little transparency and no sign of that changing.
Accepted but none of that explains eg how Poundland/Dealz seem incapable of remotely replicating their 3 packs for £1 deals on own-brand paracetemol in the Republic, while almost everything else in their £1 product range in Northern Ireland can be picked up down here for €1.50.
At a glance, the prices look about the same as, if not higher than, Chemist Warehouse's prices.That's an interesting tip @Starrynights
I use Inish Pharmacy which is based in Ireland and deliver OTC meds which are cheaper than any physical pharmacy, though still more expensive than UK or such meds via prescription approach.
Really? Looking at the latest CW catalogue, I see Perrigo Paracetamol 1.99 for 24 in both so about the same. It's a pity CW don't have more of their stock online for price checks, you can only browse whatever is in the catalogue at that time.At a glance, the prices look about the same as, if not higher than, Chemist Warehouse's prices.
In these cases they claim it is licensing costs as you mentioned.
If paracetamol is approved already, I presume at EU-level, what further licensing is required?
None, I would hope.
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