The National Consumer Agency (NCA) has advised people to shop around for prescription medications after a nationwide survey found vast differences in price.

The study of 45 pharmacies found large variations both nationally and in local areas for the prices charged to private customers for 39 common prescription medicines. The survey also found differences in relation to pharmacies’ policies on dispensing fees.

The percentage differences in prices of individual prescription medicines ranged from between 37% to 199%.

Key findings of the survey include:

• The average percentage difference across all products nationally was 56%
• The largest percentage variation in price for an individual product within a local area was for Losec Mups 20 Mg (28). The difference in price in Waterford was found to be 122% with prices ranging from €22.43 to €49.69
• The second highest percentage price variation within an area was for the product Zoton Fastab Tabs 30 Mg (28). In Dublin, prices ranged from €19.96 to €42.33, a difference of 112%.
• In Dublin across the 39 products surveyed, the minimum price difference for any individual product was 34%, with the average percentage price difference being 44%
• The average price difference across the 39 prescription medicines varied slightly in the local areas surveyed. In Galway, the average difference was 30%, while in Cork and Limerick, the average difference was 29%. The corresponding figure for Waterford is 27%

Karen O'Leary is Chief Executive of the NCA. "Many private customers may not be aware of these price differentials. We would urge consumers, especially those on long-term medication and who do not meet the criteria for the various State-funded drug schemes, to compare the costs of prescription medicines in their local area before choosing a pharmacy" she said.

"Consumers can compare prices by simply visiting or phoning pharmacies and requesting that pharmacy’s price for the prescription required".

"Some pharmacies said they reduce the overall cost for their customers by not applying the dispensing fee, or applying just one dispensing fee on a number of prescribed products. We would advise consumers to speak to their pharmacist to see if these reductions are available, particularly if they are making regular purchases" she added.

Ms. O'Leary also believes more needs to be done to help customers compare the costs of prescription medicines.

"As a pharmacy’s dispensing fee policy may have a large bearing on the final price paid by consumers, the prominent display of the pharmacy’s policy would help improve price transparency and help to inform consumers".

The NCA says they have written to the pharmacy regulator, the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland (PSI) calling for the inclusion of a specific reference to the display of dispensing fee policies by pharmacists at their premises.