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Prices and Practices Pharmaceutical Survey 2010
Supported byReport by
CONSUMER COUNCIL OF FIJI
Funded by
EUROPEAN UNION
About Consumer Council of Fiji (CCOF)Consumer Council of Fiji (CCOF) is a statutory organization dedicated to protect the rights and interests of consumers in Fiji and pro-mote consumers’ interests nationwide through education, research, campaign and lobbying. It was established in 1976 and currently has 3 offices in Fiji.
For more information, visit www.consumersfiji.org
Prices and Practices : Pharmaceutical Survey 2010
© 2010. This work is copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study, research, criticism or review as permitted under the Copyright Act, no part may be reproduced by any process without written permission.
Layout and Concept : Consumer Council of Fiji.
Printed in Fiji.
USP Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data
Prices and practices : pharmaceutical survey 2010 / [Consumer Council of Fiji]. – Suva, Fiji : Consumer Council, 2011.
44 p. :col. ill. ; 28 cm.
ISBN: 978-982-98044-2-6
Drugs - Prices - Fiji 2.Prescription pricing - Fiji I. Consumer Council of Fiji.
HD9674.F5P74 2011
338.436151
Published by Consumer Council of Fiji (CCOF)
Suva Office (HQ) Ming Building, 4 Carnavon StreetP Private Mail BagT (679) 330 0792 | (679) 331 0183 | (679) 330 5864F (679) 330 0115E complaints@consumersfiji.org
Lautoka Office Suite 4, Popular Building, Vidilo StreetP P.O.Box 5396, LautokaT (679) 666 4987F (679) 665 2846M (679) 926 2807E consumerltk@connect.com.fj
Labasa Office Level 1, Lot 41 Raza Properties Limited, Nasekula RoadP P.O.Box 64, LautokaT (679) 881 2559F (679) 881 2559E colbs@connect.com.fj
CORRIGENDUM At the time medicines were purchased, Midway Pharmacy Ba did not provide a receipt with itemized prices nor were the prices stated on the individual medicine pack. The Council sought the prices of individual medicines over the phone from Midway. This is why the individual medicine prices for Midway on row number 35 in the appended table (Individual Medicine Prices & Comments) on page 35 do not tally with the total price paid for the medicines purchased which is $18. 00. Now that Midway has provided evidence, the Council is satisfied that the pharmacy is not overcharging. Hence the claims of Midway overcharging made on pages 6, 14, 15, 17, 18, 19 and 20 of this report should be disregarded.
1
Prices and Practices Pharmaceutical Survey 2010
A Consumer Council of Fiji Report
CONSUMER COUNCIL OF FIJI
2
The Consumer Council of Fiji is greatly appreciative of the proactive assistance and support
of the Ministry of Health, in particular the Honourable Minister Dr Neil Sharma. The survey
would have been difficult had it not been for the support and advice of the Minister. We also
would like to thank the Fiji Commerce Commission and the Pharmacy & Poisons Board for the
valuable comments and advice provided towards strengthening the final report. These three
agencies have also taken the necessary first steps towards taking necessary action on some of
the recommendations included in this report. Last, but not least, the Council wishes to express
its gratitude to those consumers who have assisted this endeavour by way of complaints and
contributing their voice to the public debate over medicine prices in the country. Needless
to say the responsibility for errors, omissions and content of the report lies entirely with the
Consumer Council of Fiji.
3
Glossary And Acronyms 4
List of Tables 4
Executive Summary 5-7
Introduction 8
Objectives of the study 9
Survey Methodology 10
Key Findings 11 - 20
Pharmacy Trade Practices 21 - 24
Pharmacy Ownership 25
Conclusion and Recommendations 26 - 27
References 28
Appendix:
Response from Pharmacy and Poisons Board 29
Response from Fiji Pharmaceutical Society 30 - 31
Individual Medicine Prices & Comments 32 - 42
Price Comparisons - 43 - 47
Same medicine, batch number,
manufacturer/source country
Contents
4
Branded medicines - Branded medicines are those medicines that are protected by patents. A medicine brand name is often the trade or “brand” name the manufacturer gives to the medicine. Another term used is “originator brand” and the patent gives the manufacturer the exclusive right to market the medicine under its brand name for a defined period, often many years depending on the patent conditions. Other companies can have the right to manufacture and market the medicine under a different name or under its generic name once the patent expires. Branded medicines are often more expensive because the manufacturer has spent considerable money and other resources in research and clinical trials, and also packaging and marketing the medicines.
Commerce Commission - The competition and commerce regulator in Fiji responsible for administering and enforc-ing the Commerce Commission Decree which contains laws and regulations pertaining to fair trade, consumer pro-tection and competition. The Commission is also the price regulator responsible for issuing price control orders and enforcing such orders.
DHA - Drug Houses of Australia
Drug – In the pharmaceutical industry a drug is a chemical substance used in the treatment, cure, prevention, or diag-nosis of disease or used to otherwise enhance physical or mental well-being. The term “drug” is often used interchange-ably with the term “medicine”. Both mean the same thing in the pharmaceutical industry or in pharmacology.
Generic medicines (or generics) - Medicines produced and marketed under their chemical or “generic” name, e.g. paracetamol as opposed to Panadol, a brand or trade name of a paracetamol produced, patented and marketed by pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline. Generics are normally no longer protected by patents. A generic drug can only be sold after the patent runs out. While generic drugs are cheaper for consumers, they still must meet the required standards set by regulatory authorities. For example, the US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) requires that generics must contain the active ingredients as the original formulation. Generics should have the same route of administration, safety, efficacy and intended use as branded medicines.
GOF - Government of Fiji
GSK - Glaxo Smith Kline
FIRCA - Fiji Islands Revenue and Customs Authority
FPS - Fiji Pharmaceutical Society
NCDs - Non Communicable Diseases
NGOs -Non Government Organizations
Patent - A patent normally is an exclusive right granted by a government or regulatory agency to an individual inventor or business to manufacture, market and sell a product or invention for a certain number of years.
Price Control Order – A regulation or legal decision to control or prescribe the allowable maximum price of a product.
PIB- Prices and Incomes Board (now merged with Fiji Commerce Commission)
TIN- Tax Identification Number
VAT- Value Added Tax
Glossary and Acronyms
Glossary and Acronyms
Table 1 No: of Pharmacies Surveyed in each Division
Table 2 Prices for Prescription Pack
Table 3 Highest and Lowest Prices (Full Pack)
Table 4 National Analysis-Pharmacies with 6 Generics and One Originator Brand (Glipizide-Minidiab)
Table 5 Divisional Analysis- Pharmacies with 6 Generics and One Originator Brand (Glipizide-Minidiab)
Table 6 Price Analysis-Frusemide Same Dosage/ Quantity
Table 7 Aspirin
Table 8 Metformin
Table 9 Simvastatin
Table 10 Enalapril
Table 11 Amoxicillin
Table 12 Glipizide
Table 13 Comparison of Same Drug and Quantity
Table 14 Non Disclosure of Individual Medicine Prices
Table 15 Queries on Prescription
Table 16 Pharmacy Ownership
List of tables
5
Introduction The pharmaceutical sector plays an important role in providing safe and af-fordable medicines to the people of any country. Fiji is no exception. Medicine prices are controlled through the Prices and Incomes Board (PIB (now merged with Commerce Commission) which sets percentage mark-ups at whole-sale and retail level. The Government of Fiji (GOF) has provided incentives through duty exemptions and consumer protection through percentage price control. Despite all these measures, consumers are still complaining of high health costs. This is a direct result of anomalies in the pricing of medi-cations in pharmacies.
While not codified, the general practice amongst pharmacies is to sup-ply generic medication, as opposed to originator brands for prescriptions from a public hospital or a health centre unless requested by patients to do otherwise.
The Consumer Council of Fiji conducted surveys in to ascertain prices of commonly prescribed drugs for diabetes, hypertension, heart disease and other non communicable diseases. The Fiji Pharmaceutical Soci-ety (FPS) rejected the findings of these surveys claiming that they were technically flawed. The Council’s drawback then was the lack of technical advice and co-operation from the pharmaceutical sector.
Hence, the Council decided to carry out a comprehensive survey with the assistance of the Ministry of Health and a techni-cal expert to investigate prices of prescribed medicines, pharmacy practices and anti-competitive conduct (if any) in this very important sector.
In finalising the survey report the Council presented the draft and initial findings to the FPS for its comments. This endeavour was necessary to get the feedback from FPS and its members on the findings. The FPS had re-sponded via the Minister of Health and a copy of their comments has been included in this published report. (refer to Appendix)
Survey MethodologyA patient’s prescription from a registered medical doctor at a public hospital was presented to 47 out of 55 pharmacies for dis-pensing. These were purchased by the Council and documents pertaining to this transaction are retained as evidence and for verification. This study looked at the following aspects:
• Prices of medications of the same brand, quantity, batch number and country of origin from different pharmacies;
• The kind of brands that were dispensed (generics or originator);
• Whether the consumer was informed of the availability of this choice to buy generic or originator brands;
• Pharmacists’ conduct in dispensing medicines;
• Whether prices were fully disclosed to the consumer;
• Labelling requirements set by the Ministry of Health which requires the quantity of medication dispensed, directions for use, brand if possible and prices to be displayed on the 1labels ;
• Whether issuing of receipts complied with the Commerce Commission requirements;
• Whether registered pharmacists were in attendance during the dispensing of medicines; and
• To understand market practices in terms of competition, fair play and corporate social responsibility.
Executive Summary
1 Ministry of Health (30 Oct 2009) Press Release on Monitoring of Pharmaceutical Prices in Private Sector
Executive Summary
6
1. Thirty (30) or 57% of the pharmacies surveyed charged higher prices for the same brand and quantity of medication. In some cases overcharging is by 460% despite placing medicines under price control. Thirty (30) tablets of Microlab were sold by Nadi Chemist for $0.83 where as Midway Pharmacy- Ba & Chovhan Pharmacy Ltd-Lautoka sold the same tablet and the same quantity for $4.65.
2. Forty three (43) pharmacies chose to dispense origi-nator brands for one or more items even though ge-nerics are widely available. Thus, a $15.00 prescription would now cost a consumer up to $44.00, which is three times more or worth a three months supply of medicines. Twelve pharmacies charged more than $30.00 while Hyperchem Pharmacy, Lautoka; Thakor-lal’s Pharmacy, Nadi and Western Medicare Pharmacy, Ba charged more than $40.00 for the same prescribed medicine. These are unreasonable profits being made at the expense of patients. While not breaching any law, these pharmacies have shown gross negligence and a complete breach of trust placed on them by ordinary consumers by dispensing originator brands without first consulting them. The unsuspecting pub-lic, especially the poor, thus need to readjust their entire months budget which can potentially result in children missing school,compromise in living stand-ards or simply aggravating further their poverty sta-tus. [opinion which would need substantiating]
3. A comparison made for those pharmacies sell-ing 6 generics and 1 originator brand Minidiab (glipizide) revealed that the highest price for all 7 medicines was charged by Chovhan Pharmacy Lautoka at $31.00, while Guardian Angel Phar-macy, Laucala Beach offered the lowest price of $15.35. The percentage price difference between the lowest and highest for this group was 102%. This would mean double the price for the same set of medicine for a consumer in Lautoka than in Suva. Is this 102% price difference justfied?
4. Only three (3) pharmacies dispensed all 7 generic medicines as prescribed. Amongst the ‘All Generics’ Group, Health Care Chemist in Tavua charged a higher price of $30.70 while Nadi Chemist charged $13.45 for all 7 generic medication. A consumer in Tavua would pay $17.25 more for the same medicine. This is a clas-sic case of generic medication being sold at a price of the originator brand drugs to unsuspecting consum-ers. Interestingly, 36 pharmacies who sold either one or more originator medicine had a lower total pack price than Health Care Chemist in Tavua.
5. Thakorlal’s Pharmacy in Lautoka dispensed the in-correct dosage of enalapril. Instead of 10mg (as per prescription), the pharmacist dispensed 5mg without informing the buyer. Similarly, Sugar City Pharmacy, Lautoka issued 15 capsules of amoxillin instead of 9 or 10 for eight hourly courses.
6. Three pharmacies sold generic medication labelled as originator brand and charged the originator brand price. Thakorlal Pharmacy in Nadi, Wyse Pharmacy in Nakasi and Northern Drug Store in Labasa dispensed generic Apro frusemide but labelled it as Lasix which is an originator brand tablet and also charged the price of Laxis ($4.65) which is much more expensive than generic Apo ($1.35).
7. Some pharmacies sold the same medicine (brand, dosage & batch number) at different prices. For ex-ample, two pharmacies in Ba – Hyperchem and Mid-way had a 189% price difference for the same medi-cine Flaminopril enalapril (Flamingo Pharmaceuticals batch #106). Similarly, Arrow (batch# SAWH0019) was sold by Budget Pharmacy in Nadi for $2.95 while My Chemist, Nasea Chemist and Northern Drug Store in Labasa dispensed the same medicine for $9.45. These three pharmacies overcharged consumers by 220%.
8. Nineteen (19) pharmacies violated labelling require-ments in one way or another.
9. None of the 47 pharmacies provided individual medi-cine names on the receipts. However, 32 pharmacies included the price on the labels. Nineteen (19) phar-macies provided both itemised receipts using codes and prices on their labels. Out of the 32 pharmacies that included prices on the labels, 15 did not provide itemised receipts.
10. Three pharmacies (Sugar City Pharmacy, Lautoka; Chovhan Pharmacy, Lautoka and Patel Pharmacy, Si-gatoka issued a receipt without the company name, TIN number or company address. Madison Pharmacy, Suva gave a “chit” with company name and total price when a receipt was requested. In the Northern Divi-sion, Northern Drug Store, Labasa issued a receipt from “My Chemist” instead of a receipt specifically for Northern Drug Store. Ownership is the same for My Chemist and Northern Drug Store.
Main Findings
Executive Summary
711. 51% of total pharmacies under survey made inquiries
on the prescription and the patient, while 49% of the pharmaciess dispensed the drugs without any further clarification on the prescription.
12. During the survey, none of the pharmacies asked whether the patient wanted generics or originator brand medications. The general rule amongst phar-macists is to dispense generic drugs when presented with a public hospital prescription.
13. Pharmacy Plus of Suva and Life Pharmacy Nadi had the incorrect patient’s name typed on the medicine pack.
14. Generally, the prices of medicine in the Western Divi-sion are higher than in Central and Northern Divisions. In the Central division, Superdrug Pharmacy, Suva and Central Pharmacy, Suva sold the 7 medicines under survey for $38.80 and $38.50 respectively.
RecommendationThese findings call for the implementation of some nec-essary actions that would address current problems and also benefit the consumers and the pharmaceutical sector. The following are recommended:
1. To acknowledge that there have been breaches and unfair trade practices by the pharmaceu-tical sector and that the enforcement agencies have not been vigilant;
2. Pharmacy and Poisons Board together with PIB (Commerce Commission) to prosecute pharma-cies if breaches have occurred.
3. The Price Control Order (PCO) is now some 18 years out of date thus urgently needs to be re-viewed and amended to address Fiji’s increasing cost of health care.
4. Pharmacy and Poisons Board needs to take a more proactive role in regulating the industry and its practices.
5. The law also establishes the Fiji Pharmaceutical Society (Section 32B). They need to strengthen their code of ethics and monitor market practic-es. FPS to ensure its members wear professional attire (e.g. white coat) so that the public can dif-ferentiate a pharmacist from other pharmacy staff. FSP should also require that pharmacies display the pharmacist’s name that is on duty at one particular period of time;
6. FPS, the Ministry of Health and the Consumer Council of Fiji should educate consumers on the different categories of medicines – generics, branded generics and originator brands, includ-ing labelling information;
7. A price list of common drugs consumed for common illnesses should be prominently dis-played at pharmacies. PIB/Commerce Commis-sion to list these in a revised price order;
8. The Ministry of Health to impose a strict “Code of Conduct” that must be practiced by all phar-macies. The Code of Conduct has to be a bind-ing document and any breaches to it should lead to fines or cancellation of licenses. FPS and the Ministry of Health should set up guidelines for dispensing of drugs.
9. Fiji Islands Revenue and Customs Authority (FIRCA) can investigate whether companies and their shareholders are accurately and truthfully declaring their income for tax purposes. There are violations, for example, non–pharmacists are shareholders in some cases and in a few cases the same shareholder(s) own multiple pharma-cies according to the Registrar of Companies’ records;
10. The Ministry of Health and Commerce Com-mission should also look at the importers and distributors of pharmaceuticals in Fiji to ensure competition.
11. The Government to implement the recommen-dations of this study so that Fiji’s citizens are not easily manipulated and their health interests are protected at all times.
Executive Summary
8
The pharmaceutical sector plays an important role in providing safe and af-
fordable medications to the citizens of any country. Fiji is no exception. For this, a strong regulatory mechanism is re-
quired to monitor prices and availability of essential medicines to ensure that 34% in
urban areas and 43% of people in rural areas living below the poverty line have access to
affordable medications 2.
A consumer depends solely on the doctors and the pharmacists to be treated fairly while pre-scribing and dispensing medicines. Medications
are perhaps the only product where consumers cannot exercise their preference and therefore
trust that professional guidance is provided by the pharmacist in good faith. Therefore, professional and ethical conduct of pharma-cist is paramount in ensuring that consum-
ers are treated fairly.
Prescribing in the public sector is pri-marily by generic name, however in the
private sector both brand and generic names are in use based on each individual pharmacists preferences. The existing legis-
lation requires that in the private sector, the pharmacist must supply the brand prescribed by the doc-tor, however in practice, the pharmacist may discuss alter-native generic products and prices with the patient who then makes the selection 3.
Medicine prices is an important item on the Ministry of Health’s agenda 4. In October 2009, the Ministry intro-duced a monitoring system of Pharmaceutical Prices in the Private Sector by encouraging the public to report any price-related issues. In November 2009, the Minister of Health, Dr Neil Sharma had raised “issues of overcharging” under the heading of “professionalism and ethics” in a writ-ten speech delivered to members of the Fiji Pharmaceuti-cal Society 5. The Ministry of Health in July 2010 convened
a Working Committee on medicine prices comprising health officials and representatives from the Consumer Council, Commerce Commission/Prices & Incomes Board (PIB) and the Ministry of Finance.
Price ControlAll medicines in both public and private sectors in Fiji are imported. Medicines are on percentage price control as stipulated in the Price Control Order No.5, 1992 Ethical Medicine. Under the formula outlined in this Order, the wholesale profit margins for medicines are set at: “Total into-store cost for pricing plus 20%”, while the retail phar-macies are allowed a maximum mark-up of 30% for over the counter drugs and 35% for prescription drugs plus 45c for dispensing doctors’ prescriptions” 6. The PIB (now merged with the Commerce Commission) is the agency that is charged with monitoring medicine prices and en-suring compliance by wholesalers and retailers of phar-maceutical products. There is no value-added tax (VAT) on dispensed medicines but this tax is payable on medicines purchased over the counter without prescription 7.
However, since 1992, the PIB has not done any review of the PCO on medicines nor has it produced any formal monitoring report to gauge compliance. The Price Control Order is now some 18 years out of date and urgently needs a review and amendment to address Fiji’s increasing cost of health care. The fact that there is a trend towards private health care and a user-pay system to relieve pressure on state-funded services and facilities, price control is a way to mitigate any negative impacts on poor and low-income consumers.
Previous Surveys Conducted in 2007 and 2009This investigation is a continuation of the Council’s moni-toring of retail prices of medicines in the local pharmaceu-tical market. Surveys were conducted in 2007 and 2009 to ascertain prices of essential prescription drugs for most
IntroductionMedications are perhaps the only product where consumers cannot exercise their preference and
therefore trust that professional guidance is provided by the pharmacist in good faith. Therefore, professional
and ethical conduct of pharmacist is paramount in ensuring that consumers are treated fairly.
“
”
Introduction
2 Preliminary Report on Poverty and Household Incomes in Fiji in 2008-09, Bureau of Statistics. 2010
3 http://www.haiweb.org/medicineprices/surveys/200409FJ/survey_report.pdf 4 Ministry of Health (30 October, 2009) Naturopathic Medicine – Retailing in Fiji5 Speech of the Ministry for Health, Dr Neil Sharma delivered to members of
the Fiji Pharmaceutical Society, Natadola, Nadi, 29th Nov 2009. www. www.
health.gov.fj/speeches/29/11/2009--Fiji-pharmaceutical-society natadola. html (Accessed 15 June 2010)
6 Fiji Republic Gazette Supplement, No.26, Friday 5th June, 1992; Legal Notice No.69, Counter-Inflation Act (Chapter 73), Counter-Inflation (Price Control), Ethical Medicine, No.5, Order, 1992.
7 http://www.haiweb.org/medicineprices/surveys/200409FJ/survey_report.pdf
9
The government has played its part by making prescribed medicines both duty and VAT exempt as well as placing these under price control. Despite all these measures, consumers are still complaining of high price variance between pharmacies and continued rising prices of phar-maceutical products. To this end, the Council carried out surveys in 2007 and 2009 to ascertain prices of commonly used prescription drugs which included medications used for diabetes, hypertension, heart disease and other non communicable diseases. The findings of these surveys were rejected by the Fiji Pharmaceutical Society (FPS) on the basis that they were technically flawed. The Council’s drawback while conducting the survey then was lack of
It should be noted that while the objective of the survey was to investigate prices of prescription medicines, scru-tinise pharmacy practices and ascertain anti-competitive behaviour (if any), the ultimate goals have been to correct the anomalies in the pharmaceutical sector and provid-ing relief to consumers. The first steps towards these goals have been taken as the Council has received very positive responses from the principal enforcement agency namely the Pharmacy & Poisons Board of the Ministry of Health. The Board was prompted to investigate the issues raised in the draft report and this had commenced in late 2010.
During the final stages of the publishing of this report, the Board informed the Council that a general warning letter had been issued to all retail pharmacies and specific cases are being addressed through its disciplinary procedures. Further, the Council’s recommendation to make public the action taken against specific pharmacies would be dis-cussed at its first meeting of 2011. It can be asserted here that the ultimate goals of the report are being gradually achieved and the Council is very optimistic that the full impact will soon be realised.
professional advice and non cooperation by the retail sec-tor.
The Council thus decided to carry out a comprehensive survey with the help and approval of the Ministry of Health and a technical expert.
The objective of the survey was to to investigate prices of prescription medicines, pharmacy practices in dispens-ing drugs and anti-competitive behaviour (if any) in the pharmaceutical sector. However, it was equally important for the Council to establish whether the current Price Con-trol on medicines under the Commerce Commission is actually benefiting the consumers. More specifically, the Council investigated the following aspects:
Aspects Research questions
1. Price of Medicine a) Comparison of prices of prescription medicines of the same brand, same batch number, same country of origin and same quantity in different pharmacies around Fiji;
b) Whether generics or originator brands were dispensed;c) Did the pharmacist offer choice between originator and generic medicines?e) Whether generic medicines were sold at an originator price; and f ) Comparison of prices of medication in those pharmacies with the same owner(s)
2. Pharmacy Trade Practices a) Were pharmacists present at the outlets during dispensing of medications? b) Was there any interaction between the pharmacist and the consumer? c) Was the labelling of medications correct and whether directions on the labels were
clearly written?d) Did the pharmacist disclose the prices of medications before dispensing the
medicines? ande) Did the consumer receive an itemised receipt and whether price information on
each medicine was clearly stated?
3. Pharmacy Ownership a) Who are the owners of these pharmacies? Is there multiple ownerships? b) Is there price fixing if pharmacies are owned by the same person(s) or cartel like
operation if ownership is different?
Objectives of The Study
common ailments and diseases suffered by a growing number of people in Fiji such as diabetes, hypertension, heart diseases and other non-communicable diseases (NCDs). According to the Ministry of Health, NCDs are the leading causes of deaths in Fiji and hypertension preva-lence is 19.1% 8. In the 2009 price survey the Council ana-lysed the prices of essential drugs voluntarily provided by selected pharmacies. These prices were then compared with a similar survey held in 2007 to determine the extent
of price increases. There were limitations to this method. The pharmacies would have rightly assumed that a price survey was underway and thus would have supplied pric-es that did not reflect what was actually charged to con-sumers. Also, out of 20 leading pharmacies approached in 2009, only 14 provided their prices. It was necessary then to acquire realistic prices by actually purchasing a number of prescribed medicines.
Objectives of The Study
8 Panapasa G., 2010, ‘Symposium on NCDs’, Fiji Times, 6 July.
10
Pharmacy Trade Practices- ObservationThe Council also prepared a checklist for observations re-garding pharmacy practices while dispensing medicines. Some of these were:
• Presence of pharmacists on the premises and during dispensing;
• Labelling requirements as set by the Ministry of Health which require that the quantity of medication dis-pensed, directions for use, brand (if possible) and prices to be displayed on the labels;
• Was the patient given a choice to purchase a generic or an originator brand?;
• If information such as phone contact, age, etc of the patient was sought by the pharmacy;
• Was itemised receipt given with price information on each medicine and whether these were clearly stated?
• Pharmacist interaction with the patient;
• Disclosure of prices; and
• Issuance of receipts.
Pharmacy OwnershipThis was done by retrieving pharmacy ownership docu-ments from the Registrar of Companies. The idea is to ascertain ownership and investigate possibility of price fixing if more than one pharmacy is owned by the same person(s) or cartel like operation if ownership is differ-ent. The intention was to understand market practices in terms of competition, fair play and corporate social responsibility.
In order to understand the problems pertaining to price variations, pharmacy practices and pharmacy ownership, three separate investigations/observations were conduct-ed as outlined below:
PrescriptionTo obtain the actual prices of medications that patients pay for required the Coun-cil to acquire a prescription from a medical doctor to purchase medicines from phar-macies around Fiji. The Council with the assistance of the Ministry of Health was able to obtain a prescription from a doctor at a public Hospital. (See Appendix 1 for a copy of the prescription). The prescription was prepared for an elderly male patient suffering from diabetes, cardiovascu-lar ailments, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. It must be noted that the age of the patient is not stated on the prescription; instead “Adult/m” is used.
Multiple copies of the same prescription were taken to pharmacies around Fiji. The staff posed as a relative, an employee, a neighbour or a friend of the patient when presenting the prescription for dispensing. The Council bought the medicines under the patient’s name. The sur-vey was held from 26th April to 12th May 2010, covering
Nausori, Suva-Nasinu, Sigatoka, Nadi, Lautoka, Ba, Rakiraki, Tavua and Labasa.
A total of 47 pharmacies were surveyed around Fiji. The total cost of the medicines from the 47 pharmacies was $1169.63. A total of 23 pharmacies were surveyed in the Central/Eastern Division – along the Suva-Nausori corri-dor, while 21 were surveyed in the Western Division from Sigatoka to Rakiraki and 3 in the Northern Division (Labasa has only 3 pharmacies).
MedicinesA total of seven (7) medicines (amoxicillin, enalapril, sim-vastatin, metformin, frusemide, glipizide and aspirin) were prescribed with a maximum of 2 repeats for all except for amoxicillin which the prescription did not allow for a re-peat (see Appendix 1 for details). Since the ailments ad-dressed in the prescription are common in Fiji, it is expect-ed that these medicines are readily available in around the country pharmacies.
Table 1: No. of Pharmacies Surveyed in each Division
DIVISIONS No. of Pharmacies
Central/Eastern 23
Western 21
Northern 3
TOTAL 47
Survey Methodology
Survey Methodology
11
PRICE ANALYSISOut of the 47 pharmacies, 7 did not offer the full pack of medicines as pre-scribed. Six pharmacies did not dispense amoxi-
cillin since the prescr iption
was written a while a g o , w h i l e
one did not have glipiz-
ide. Most pharmacies dis-pensed Minidiab brand of glipizide
as generics are not readily available and with little price difference. However there
is no excuse for dispensing Lasix instead of frusemide as this is readily available.
In the analysis (see Appendix 2), all 47 pharmacies were considered depending on the type of information that was sought. For example, all 47 pharmacies were consid-ered while investigating pharmacy practices and the cost of individual medicine while 40 pharmacies were consid-ered for determining the cost of all 7 medicines.
Prescription Pack: Price Differences, Lowest and HighestThe comparison is made for all (7) prescribed medicines purchased by the Council staff irrespective of generics and originator brand as choice was not offered by any of the pharmacy. Table 2 below provides what a consumer is most likely to pay for the 7 medicines from 47 pharmacies.
Key Findings
No Pharmacy Location Total Price
CENTRAL/EASTERN DIVISION
1 A.J. Swann Co Ltd, Suva 21 Thomson St, Suva $19.40
2 Amy Street Pharmacy, Toorak 120 Amy St, Toorak $18.85
3 Central Pharmacy, Suva Lot 1, Cumming St, Mid city, Suva $38.50
4 City Centre Pharmacy, Suva MHCC, Suva $28.26
5 Flagstaff Pharmacy, Suva 7 Rewa St, Flagstaff $28.75
6 Good Health Care Pharmacy, Suva Nasese Medical Centre,62 Ratu Sukuna Rd $18.35
7 Guardian Angel Pharmacy, L/Beach Vivras Plaza, Laucala Bch $15.35
8 Holistic Pharmacy, Suva 1 Nina Street, Suva $15.15*
9 Laucala Bay Pharmacy, Suva Sport City,1 Grantham Rd, Laucala Bay $18.60
10 Life Pharmacy, Nausori Lot 1, NG Patel Rd, Nausori $14.50*
11 Madison Pharmacy, Suva 83 Cumming St,Suva $19.90
12 Mega Care Pharmacy, Makoi, Nasinu Matanikorovatu Road, Makoi $23.25*
13 Metro Pharmacy, Suva Renwick Road, Suva $25.20*
14 Nasese Pharmacy , Suva 36 Ratu Sukuna Rd, Nasese,Suva $29.85
15 Nausori Pharmacy Ltd, Nausori Kings Rd, Nausori $25.26
16 Pharmacy Plus, Suva 190 Renwick Rd, Suva $20.30
17 Rewa Pharmacy, Nausori Wing Zoing Wah Bldg, Main Street, Nausori $13.60*
18 Samabula Drug Store,Samabula 77 Ratu Mara Rd, Samabula $15.90
19 Superdrug Pharmacy, Nabua 550 Rt Mara Rd, Nabua $23.30*
20 Superdrug Pharmacy, Suva Suva Central Bldg, Suva $38.80
21 Suva City Pharmacy, Suva 10 Thomson St, Suva $21.40*
22 Wyse Pharmacy, Nakasi Tebara Shopping Mall, Nakasi $29.65
23 Wyse Pharmacy, Valelevu Shop 4,Daniva Rd, Valelevu $24.50
Key Findings
12
Pharmacies in the Western Division had both the most expensive and lowest priced pack. The most expensive pack was $44.25 purchased at Hyperchem Pharmacy in Lautoka, while the lowest priced pack was $13.45 at Nadi Chemist. The highest price in the Central/Eastern area was $38.80 recorded at Superdrug Pharmacy (Suva Central Bldg), while the lowest priced pack was sold by Guardian Angel Pharmacy (Vivraz Plaza, Laucala Beach) for $15.35. There were not much price differences between the three pharmacies in the Northern Division. The Northern Drug Store had the highest price of $25.50, while Nasea Chemist had the lowest at $21.80.
Table 3 below shows percentage difference in each divi-sion and at the national level.
WESTERN DIVISION
24 Budget Pharmacy, Nadi Shop 3, Namaka Lane, Nadi $18.00
25 Care Chemist, Sigatoka Suewing Bldg,Sigatoka $20.31
26 Chandulal’s Pharmacy, Lautoka 23 Yasawa St, Lautoka $19.80
27 Chovhan Pharmacy Ltd, Lautoka 5 Yasawa St, Lautoka $31.00
28 Health Care Chemist, Tavua Market St, Tavua $30.70
29 Health First Pharmacy, Nadi 40 Lodia St, Nadi Town $32.08
30 Hyperchem Pharmacy, Ba Main St, Ba $21.55
31 Hyperchem Pharmacy, Lautoka 101 Vitogo Parade, Lautoka $44.25
32 Island Pharmacy Complex, Nadi Main St, Nadi $24.55
33 Island Pharmacy, Ba 62 Bank St, Ba $28.50
34 Life Pharmacy Ltd, Nadi 41 Lodhia St, Nadi $22.00
35 Midway Pharmacy, Ba Kings Rd, Ba $18.00
36 MS Pharmacy, Nadi 9 Caly St, Nadi Town $25.35
37 Nadi Chemist, Nadi Clay St, Nadi Town $13.45
38 Naidu’s Medical Centre Vaileka Street, Rakiraki $30.50
39 Namaka Medisure Pharmacy, Nadi Namaka Lane, Nadi $31.00
40 Patel Pharmacy Ltd, Sigatoka Box 12,Sigatoka $30.50
41 Sugar City Pharmacy Ltd, Lautoka 23 Naviti St, Lautoka $21.55
42 Thakorlal’s Pharmacy, Lautoka 1003 Vitogo Parade, Lautoka $30.17
43 Thakorlal’s Pharmacy, Nadi 347 Main St, Nadi $40.10
44 Western Medicare Pharmacy, Ba Main Street, Ba $40.50
NORTHERN DIVISION
45 My Chemist, Labasa Shop 5 Nasekula Rd, Labasa $23.40
46 Nasea Chemist, Labasa Shop1,168 Nasekula Rd,Labasa $21.80
47 Northern Drug Store, Labasa R.B.Patel Building, Labasa $25.50*pharmacies that did not dispense all 7 medicine
Table 3: Highest & Lowest Prices (Full Pack)
DIVISION LOWEST PRICE HIGHEST PRICE % Difference
All/National $13.45 $44.25 229%
Central/Eastern $15.35 $38.80 153%
Western $13.45 $44.25 229%
Northern $21.80 $25.50 17%
The percentage difference between the highest and low-est prices for the full complement of prescribed medi-cines was 229%. This means that a consumer who pays the highest price of $44.25 for the prescribed medicine pack was paying 229% more or three times more than the one who pays the lowest price of $13.45. The Northern Di-vision had the lowest price difference which reflects the limited choice consumers have in this division. In essence we can deduce that huge price gaps exists between the pharmacies (irrespective of originator brand or generics) and many consumers may be unaware of this and are buy-ing medicines at exorbitant prices.
Key Findings
13
CENTRAL/EASTERN WESTERN NORTHERN
Lowest price $15.35 $20.80 $21.80
Highest price $29.85 $31.00 $25.50
Price difference between lowest and highest price $14.50 $10.20 $3.70
Percentage price difference between lowest and highest price 94% 49% 17%
Table 5: Divisional Analysis- Pharmacies with 6 generics and one originator brand (Glipizide – Minidiab)
Number of pharmacies compared 16
Highest Price (Chovhan Pharmacy Lautoka) $31.00
Lowest Price (Guardian Angel Pharmacy, Laucala Beach, Nasinu)
$15.35
Price difference between lowest and highest price
$15.65
Percentage price difference between lowest and highest price
102%
Table 4: National Analysis – Pharmacies with 6 generics and one originator brand (Glipizide – Minidiab)
Pharmacies that sold 6 generics and one originator medicineA comparison was also made for 16 pharmacies that sold 6 generics and 1 originator brand from the prescribed 7 medi-cines. From these 16 pharmacies, nine (9) are in the Central/Eastern, 4 in the Western and 3 in the Northern division.
The highest price was charged by Chovhan Pharmacy Lautoka at $31.00, while Guardian Angel Pharmacy, Laucala Beach Nasinu had the lowest price of $15.35. The percentage price difference between the lowest and highest priced pharmacy in this group was 102%. Below are the price differences per division.
The price difference for the same packs (6 generics and 1 originator brand) in 3 division show the same medicines are sold at a higher price in the Western and Northern divisions compared to the Central division. Consumers have limited choice in costs in the Western and Northern divisions. The percentage differences between the lowest and highest prices were: Central/Eastern – 94%; Western – 49%; and Northern – 17%. In Labasa, consumer choice is restricted because there are only three pharmacies where two have common ownership.
All GenericsOnly three (3) pharmacies dispensed all 7 generic medicines listed as per prescription. These were Midway Pharmacy, Ba; Health Care Chemist, Tavua and Nadi Chemist.
Amongst the ‘All Generics’ Group’, the Health Care Chemist in Tavua charged a higher price of $30.70 while Nadi Chemist charged $13.45 for all 7 generic medication. A consumer in Tavua paid $17.25 more for the same medicine. This is a case of generics being sold at a price of originator drugs to unsuspecting consumers. Interestingly, 36 pharmacies who sold either one or more originator medicine had a lower total pack price than Health Care Chemist in Tavua.
Comparison of Prices per MedicineFor price comparison of individual medicines sold in all 47 pharmacies see Appendix 2. However, listed below are examples of medicines on which price comparisons were made for the same brand with identical quantity and the same manufacturer offered by the pharmacies (see Appendix 3).
Key Findings
14
Table 7: Aspirin
Medicine Name
No of pharmacy
Quantity Lowest Price Highest Price % price Difference
Aspirin – India
26 15/300mg $0.60Mega Care Pharmacy, Holistic Pharmacy, Rewa Pharmacy, Wyse Pharmacy – Valelevu
$2.70Midway Pharmacy, Ba
350%
Aspirin - India
15 30/300mg $0.73Health First Pharmacy, Life Pharmacy Ltd -Nadi, Nadi Chemist
$2.00Western Medicare Pharmacy, Lautoka
174%
Aspirin - India
2 20/300mg $2.25Wyse Pharmacy, Nakasi
$2.70Chovhan Pharmacy Ltd
20%
AspirinAspirin is a common drug available in Fiji. The Care Chemist in Sigatoka sold Cardiprin–an originator brand for $4.61 instead of generic aspirin which is sold for $0.60. A consumer could have saved $4.01 if the pharmacist had given the consumer the option to choose.
From the above table it can be deduced that it was cheaper to obtain 30 tablets at $0.73 or 2 months supply than to get 15 tablets for $0.60 which was enough for a month. Midway Pharmacy, Ba sold 15 tablets at $2.70, i.e. 350% more for the same quantity and same brand of medicine available at Mega Care Pharmacy, Holistic Pharmacy, Rewa Pharmacy, and Wyse Pharmacy – Valelevu that sold aspirin for $0.60. Health First Pharmacy- Nadi, Life Pharmacy Ltd -Nadi, Nadi Chemist sold 30 tablets at $0.73 compared to Western Medicare Pharmacy, Lautoka which sold the same tablets in the same quantity at $2.00, which is a price difference of 174%. These are examples of unfair trade practices. The pharmacies have engaged in profiteering thus defeating the whole purpose of placing medicines under Price Control.
Manufactures Name
Medicine Name
No. of pharmacies
Quantity Lowest Price Highest Price % price Difference
Not stated Frusemide-Microlab
20 30/40mg $0.83Nadi Chemist
$4.65Midway Pharmacy- Ba & Chovhan Pharmacy Ltd-Lautoka charged originator brand price for generic medicine.
460%
Not stated Frusemide- Apo
6 30/40mg $1.35Nasea Chemist,Labasa
$4.65Northern Drug Store, Wyse Pharmacy, Nakasi & Thakorlal Pharmacy-Nadi charged originator brand price for generic medicine.
244%
Table 6: Price Analysis – Frusemide Same Dosage/Quantity
FrusemideTwenty (20) pharmacies dispensed Microlab frusemide, 19 sold Lasix, while 6 dispensed Apo. One pharmacy dis-pensed Durin, while another gave Flamingo frusemide.
Midway Pharmacy- Ba and Chovhan pharmacy- Lautoka dispensed the same drug as Nadi Chemist (Microlab) but charged 460% more i.e. $4.65 compared to Nadi Chemist which sold the same drug for 0.83cents. This is a case of unethical practice where consumers were duped into buying generic medicine but at an originator drug price. A similar case is with Apo where Nasea Chemist in Labasa sold Apo for $1.35 while Northern Drug Store, Thakorlal Pharmacy, Nadi and Wyse Pharmacy, Nakasi charged $4.65 for the same drug, a price difference of 244%!
Key Findings
15
MetforminThere are pharmacies that sell originator drugs rather than generic drugs for maximum profits. For example Life Pharmacy Ltd, Nadi and Namaka Medisure Pharmacy, Nadi sold Glucophage while MS Pharmacy in Nadi and West-ern Medicare Pharmacy, Lautoka and Super Drug Pharmacy, Suva sold Diaformin - both are originator brands al-though generic metformin is readily available for diabetic patients as diabetes is a common ailment in Fiji.
Comparing the same batch numbers and source of medicines, Midway Pharmacy, Ba sold the most expensive Flamingo metformin at $2.70, while Health First Pharmacy Nadi and Nadi Chemist sold the tablets at $1.48. Price dif-ference was 82%. The most common price was $1.95 charged by Nausori Pharmacy, Suva City Pharmacy, Chadulal’s Pharmacy, Lautoka and Hyperchem Pharmacy, Ba.
Ten (10) pharmacies in the Central/Eastern Divison sold the same batch of metformin (Pure Pharma, batch number 80002). AJ Swann Suva sold at $2.00 while Mega Care Pharmacy Makoi sold the same quantity at $1.05, a price dif-ference of 94%.
Manufacturer Name
Name No of pharmacy
Quantity Lowest Price Highest Price % price Difference
Pure Pharma Ltd, India
Pure Pharma
10 30/500mg $1.05Wyse Pharmacy – Valelevu, Mega Care Pharmacy-Makoi, Holistic Pharmacy – Suva
$2.00AJ Swann Pharmacy, Suva
94%
Flamingo Pharmaceuticals Ltd, India
Flamingo 11 30/500mg $1.48 Health First Pharmacy, Nadi and Nadi Chemist
$2.70Midway Pharmacy, Ba
82%
Flamingo Pharmaceuticals Ltd, India
Flamingo 3 15/300mg $1.35Nasea Chemist and Northern Drug Store in Labasa.
$1.95My Chemist,Labasa
44%
Windlas Biotech Ltd, India
Metofen 2 30/500mg $1.38Amy St. Pharmacy - Suva.
$1.95Rewa Pharmacy - Nausori
41%
Key Findings
Table 8: Metformin
16 SimvastatinSix (6) pharmacies dispensed Arrow simvastatin (SAWH0019). The highest price was recorded in the three Laba-sa pharmacies at $9.45. Budget Pharmacy Nadi had the cheapest price of $2.95. The three northern pharmacies charged 220% more than the cheapest Arrow simvastatin purchased.
Winstatin was sold by Amy Street Pharmacy; Good Health Care, Suva; Guardian Angel, L/Beach for $3.15 while Western Medicare Ltd charged $10.00. This is a price difference of 217%, which is three times more than what a consumer would pay for in Suva.
Five (5) pharmacies dispensed Arrow simvastatin (SAWH0023). Chovhan Pharmacy Lautoka charged $7.50, which was 143% more expensive than the lowest price offered by Nadi Chemist which was $3.08.
Arrow (Batch No: SAWH0021) was sold by Patel Pharmacy in Sigatoka for $15.00 while Hyperchem Pharmacy, Ba sold the same tablets for $5.10, a price difference of 194%
Manufacturer Name
Name No of pharmacy
Quantity Lowest Price Highest Price % price Difference
Not Stated ArrowBatch No: SAWH0019
6 30/20mg $2.95Budget Pharmacy, Nadi
$9.45My Chemist, Nasea Chemist and Northern Drug Store in Labasa
220%
Windlas Biotech Ltd, India
Winstatin 4 30/20mg $3.15Amy Street Pharmacy; Good Health Care, Suva; Guardian Angel, L/Beach;
$10.00Western Medicare Ltd
217%
Not Stated ArrowBatch No: SAWH0021
3 30/20mg $5.10Hyperchem Pharmacy, Ba
$15.00Patel Pharmacy,Sigatoka
194%
Not Stated Arrow Batch#SAWH0023
5 30/20mg $3.08Nadi Chemist, Nadi
$11.55Central Pharmacy, Suva
275%
Cipla Ltd, Ltd Simcard 11 30/20mg $9.75Flagstaff Pharmacy in Suva, Mega Care Pharmacy in Makoi and Thakorlal’s Pharmacy in Nadi.
$11.59Health First Pharmacy, Nadi
19%
Crescent Pharma Ltd
Crescsent 2 28/20mg $5.85Thakor lal Pharmacy, Lautoka
$18.00Health Care Chemist, Tavua
207%
Table 9: Simvastatin
Key Findings
17
Manufacturer Name
Name No of pharmacy
Quantity Lowest Price Highest Price % price Difference
Flamingo Pharmaceuticals Ltd, India
Flaminopril
Batch No: 1868
14 30/10mg $1.50Life Pharmacy Ltd, Nausori
$5.00Chovhan Pharmacy, Lautoka
233%
Flamingo Pharmaceuticals Ltd, India
FlaminoprilBatch No: 106
2 30/10mg $1.73Hyperchem Pharmacy, Ba
$5.00Midway Pharmacy, Ba
189%
Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd, India
Invoril 9 30/10mg $2.25Guardian Angel, L/Beach; Wyse Pharmacy, Valelevu
$4.50Wyse Pharmacy, Nakasi
100%
Suvik Hitek Pvt Lt, India
Sunapril 3 30/10mg $1.95Super Drug, Nabua and Metro Pharmacy, Suva
$3.25AJ Swann Pharmacy, Suva
66%
Merck Sharp Dohme(Australia) Pty Ltd
Renitec 2 30/10mg $9.00Western Medicare Lautoka
$13.01Hyperchem Pharmacy, Lautoka
45%
Global Pharma Health Care Pvt Ltd, India
Priloten 4 30/10mg $3.69Amy Street Pharmacy, Suva
$3.75City Centre Pharmacy & Good Health Care Pharmacy, Suva and Rewa Pharmacy, Nausori
1.6%
Table 10: Enalapril
EnalaprilThe most popularly dispensed enalapril was Flaminopril (17 pharmacies). The most expensive, Flaminopril (same batch #1868) was recorded in the Western Division, at Chovhan Pharmacy in Lautoka. It was selling it for $5.00, while the lowest price of $1.50 was recorded in the Centra/Eastern Divison at Life Pharmacy in Nausori, a difference of about 233%. This drug was commonly priced at $1.95 by three pharmacies - Pharmacy Plus, Samabula Drug Store and Suva City Pharmacy.
Nine (9) pharmacies sold Invoril enalapril from Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd, India. The medicine had the same batch number 1952512 and expiry date of 08/2010. The highest price was recorded by Wyse Pharmacy Nakasi at $4.50 and interestingly Wyse Valelevu offered the lowest price of $2.25. The price difference between the two Wyse branches for the same medicine is 100%.
There was a price difference of 189% between two pharmacies selling Flaminopril (Batch No: 106). Hyperchem Pharmacy, Ba sold this drug for $1.73 while Midway Pharmacy, Ba sold the same drug for $5.00.
AJ Swann Suva sold Sunapril enalapril at 66% more than two pharmacies selling the same batch – Metro Pharmacy Suva and Superdrug Nabua.
Key Findings
18 AmoxicillinApo, a most popular generic was dispensed in three different quantities – 9/500mg; 10/500mg and 15/500mg. For the 9/500mg quantity the highest price was $4.00 by Chovhan Pharmacy Ltd, Lautoka and lowest of $1.67 by Life Pharmacy, Nadi (percentage price difference of 89%).
Stalmox amoxicillin, manufactured by Stallion Laboratories Pvt Ltd, India was dispensed by Guardian Angel Phar-macy, L/Beach for $1.85 while Island Pharmacy, Ba dispensed the same drug for $7.00, a price difference of 278%.
GSK was sold for $3.60 by MS Pharmacy, Nadi and the same medicine was sold for $7.24 by Thakorlal’s Pharmacy, Lautoka, a price difference of 101%. See table below for more details.
Manufacturer Name
Name No of pharmacy
Quantity Lowest Price Highest Price % price Difference
Stallion Laboratories Pvt Ltd, India
Stalmox 2 10/500mg $1.85Guardian Angel Pharmacy, L/Beach
$7.00Island Pharmacy, Ba
278%
(Prawil Laboratories Ltd)
Amoxywil 9/500mg $1.61Amy Pharmacy, Suva
$4.00Midway Pharmacy, Ba
148%
Glaxo Smith Kline Australia Pty Ltd
GSK 2 9/500mg $3.60MS Pharmacy, Nadi
$7.24Thakorlal’s Pharmacy, Lautoka
101%
Not stated Apo 10 9/500mg $1.67Life Pharmacy, Nadi
$4.00Chovhan Pharmacy Ltd, Lautoka
89%
Pure Pharma Ltd, India
Peemox 2 10/500mg $1.85Wyse Pharmacy, Nakasi
$2.65Flagstaff Pharmacy, Suva
43%
Table 11: Amoxicillin
GlipizideWith the same source and batch number, six pharmacies dispensed the same Minidiab glipizide (batch L927B). The highest price was recorded at Island Pharmacy Ba ($3.50) while the cheapest was sold by Madison Suva ($3.00).
Ten pharmacies dispensed the same Minidiab glipizide (batch L942A). The highest price recorded was $3.75 by City Centre Pharmacy Suva and Nasea Chemist Labasa, while the lowest was sold by Central Pharmacy Suva for $3.00. The price difference was $0.75 or 25%. An interesting observation was that Life Pharmacy Nausori sold this same batch medicine but at a higher dosage of 40/5mg for $2.50. Most of the 30/5mg dosage sold cost more than $2.50.
The generic DHA glipizide was sold for $4.45 (Midway Pharmacy-Ba) and lowest at $3.00 (Health Care Chemist, Tavua), a percentage price difference of 48%.
Manufacturer Name
Name No of pharmacy
Quantity Lowest Price Highest Price % price Difference
Pfizer Australia Pty Ltd
MinidiabBatch No: L942A
10 30/5mg $3.00Central Pharmacy, Suva
$3.75City Centre Pharmacy, Suva and Nasea Chemist in Labasa.
25%
Pfizer Australia Pty Ltd
MinidiabBatch No: M111A
15 30/5mg $3.08Care Chemist, Sigatoka
$4.45Chovhan Pharmacy, Lautoka
44.5%
Pfizer Australia Pty Ltd
MinidiabBatch No: M111A
6 40/5mg $4.05Superdrug Pharmacy, Suva and Thakorlal’s Pharmacy, Nadi
$4.85Superdrug Pharmacy, Nabua and Flagstaff Pharmacy, Suva
20%
Drug House of Australia (Asia) Pte Ltd Singapore
DHA 2 30/5mg $3.00Health Care Chemist,Tavua
$4.45Midway Pharmacy, Ba
48%
Table 12: Glipizide
Key Findings
19Price Variance- Same Medicine and Same QuantityPharmacists are charging higher prices for the same drug and quantity which has no credible explanation other than over-pricing. The following table would illustrate this point:
Table 13: Comparison of same drug and quantityManufacturers Name Drug Name Quantity Weight Lowest Price Highest Price % difference
Microlab Frusemide 30 40mg $0.83 - Nadi Chemist $4.65Midway Pharmacy- Ba & Chovhan Pharmacy Ltd-Lautoka charged originator brand price for generic medicine.
460%
Apo Frusemide 30 40mg $1.35 - Nasea Chemist,Labasa $4.65Northern Drug Store, Wyse Pharmacy, Nakasi & Thakorlal Pharmacy-Nadi charged originator brand price for generic medicine.
244%
Aspirin – India 15 300mg $0.60 - Mega Care Pharmacy, Holistic Pharmacy, Rewa Pharmacy, Wyse Pharmacy – Valelevu
$2.70Midway Pharmacy, Ba
350%
Aspirin - India 30 300mg $0.73 - Health First Pharmacy, Life Pharmacy Ltd -Nadi, Nadi Chemist
$2.00Western Medicare Pharmacy, Lautoka
174%
Pure Pharma Ltd Pure Pharma – Metformin
30 500mg $1.05 - Wyse Pharmacy – Valelevu, Mega Care Pharmacy-Makoi, Holistic Pharmacy – Suva
$2.00 A.J. Swan Pharmacy, Suva
94%
Flamingo Pharmaceuticals Ltd
Flamingo-Metformin
30 500mg $1.48 - Health First Pharmacy, Nadi Chemist
$2.70Midway Pharmacy, Ba
82%
Arrow-SimvastatinBatch #SAWH0019
30 20mg $2.95 - Budget Pharmacy Nadi $9.45My Chemist, Nasea Chemist and Northern Drug Store, Labasa
220%
Arrow-SimvastatinBatch #SAWH0023
30 20mg $3.08 - Nadi Chemist, Nadi $11.55Central Pharmacy Suva
275%
Crescent Pharma Ltd CrescentBatch# 08016
28 20mg $5.85 - Thakor lal Pharmacy, Lautoka $18.00Health Care Chemist, Tavua
207%
Windlas Biotech Ltd Winstatin-Simvastatin
30 20mg $3.15 - Amy Street Pharmacy; Good Health Care, Suva; Guardian Angel, L/Beach;
$10.00Western Medicare Ltd
217%
Flamingo Pharmaceuticals Ltd
Flaminopril-Enalapril
30 10mg $1.50 - Holistic Pharmacy, Suva $5.00Nadi Chemist, Patel Pharmacy, Sigatoka
233%
Flamingo Pharmaceuticals Ltd, India
FlaminoprilBatch No: 106
2 30/10mg $1.73 - Hyperchem Pharmacy, Ba $5.00Midway Pharmacy, Ba
189%
Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd
Invoril-Enalapril
30 10mg $2.25 - Guardian Angel, L/Beach; Wyse Pharmacy, Valelevu
$4.50Wyse Pharmacy, Nakasi
100%
Suvik Hitek Pvt Ltd Sunapril-Enalapril
30 10mg $1.95 - Super Drug, Nabua $3.25A.J.Swan Pharmacy, Suva
66%
Merck Sharp Dohme Pty Ltd
Renitec-Enalapril
30 10mg $9.00 - Western Medicare Lautoka $13.01Hyperchem, Lautoka
45%
Apo-Amoxicillin
9 500mg $1.67 - Life Pharmacy, Nadi $4.00Chovhan Pharmacy Ltd,Lautoka
89%
Stallion Laboratories Pty Ltd
Stalmox-Amoxicillin
10 500mg $1.85 - Guardian Angel Pharmacy, L/Beach
$7.00Island Pharmacy, Ba
278%
Prawil Laboratories Ltd
Amoxywil 9 500mg $1.61 - Amy Street Pharmacy, Suva $4.00Midway Pharmacy, Nadi
148%
Glaxo Smith Kline GSK-Amoxicillin
9 500mg $3.60 - MS Pharmacy, Nadi $7.24Thakorlal’s Pharmacy, Lautoka
101%
Pfizer Australia Pty Ltd
Minidiab-Glipizide
30 5mg $3.00 - Madison Pharmacy, Suva; Central Pharmacy, Suva
$4.45Chovhan Pharmacy, Lautoka
48%
Key Findings
20This survey clearly demonstrates anomalies in pricing de-spite placing medicines under Price Control. A few exam-ples of meaningless pricing are outlined below:
• Midway Pharmacy, Ba sold 15 aspirin for $2.70, Wyse Pharmacy, Nakasi sold 20 aspirin for $2.25 whereas Health First Pharmacy, Life Pharmacy, Nadi, and Nadi Chemist sold 30 aspirin for $0.73. Why sell 15 aspirin for $2.70 but 30 aspirin for $0.73?
• Sugar City Pharmacy, Lautoka sold 15 amoxicillin (Apo) for $3.45 while Chovhan Pharmacy Ltd, Lautoka sold 9 tablets of amoxicillin (Apo) for $4.00.
• 10 Amoxywil was sold for $2.00 by Hyperchem, Ba where as Midway Pharmacy Ltd sold 9 tablets of Amox-ywil for $4.00.
• Island Pharmacy, Ba dispensed 30 Crescent, aimvastitin for $9.00 while Thakorlal Pharmacy, Lautoka dispensed 28 tablets for $5.85. Why does it cost $3.15 for only two extra tablets?
The above analysis clearly shows that the majority of phar-macies in Fiji are unnecessarily charging higher prices thus indulging in profiteering. The trade margins in phar-maceuticals are astronomical. The difference in price is over 400%! The pharmaceutical sector owes an explana-tion to the Government (provider of incentives) and the public (consumers) for these absurd anomalies in prices. Although prescribed medicines are placed under Price Control with a percentage mark up of 35%, the Council’s
survey still reveals very high trade margins. For example, drugs such as Microlab frusemide (with 460% price differ-ence); aspirin (India) (with 350% price difference); Stalmox amoxicillin (with 278% price difference) are only a tip of the iceberg. It was also noted that several pharmacies sold originator brand for maximum profits. Consumers are forced to pay for a very inflated cost, which could have been easily reduced by retailers and still make reasonable profits.
Meaningless Pricing
Profitability VS. Profiteering
My wife returned home to Australia recently after spending time with sick Mum in Suva and related a rather disquieting story. After a visit to their family doc-tor, her Mum was given a prescription for 30 tablets which they took to a pharmacy in the Nabua area. The sales assistant was very helpful and polite. While she was browsing, the sales assistant told her that the pre-scription would cost $30.75.
She was surprised at the high cost, but as the need was urgent she gave approval for the prescription to be filled. When the medication was brought to her in a plastic zip lock bag, she decided to check the con-tents and noticed only 20 tablets instead of the 30 pre-scribed. The sales assistant was embarrassed, but rec-tified the problem through the pharmacist. While an apology was given, no further explanation was forth-
coming so my wife thought it was a genuine mistake and left.
However she decided to share the experience with her sister who uses a pharmacy in Laucala Bay area. What she found was that her sister had paid only $6.75 for the same prescription the previous month at the Lau-cala Bay pharmacy. They rang the Laucala Bay phar-macist who was very helpful and explained that the medication from Nabua pharmacy was most likely the original, hence the exorbitant price.
It came to light after my wife checked with the phar-macy in Nabua that the medication was indeed the original, hence the excessive cost. It was ironic that a few days later, the local newspapers featured an arti-cle on generic brands versus original brands and how some pharmacies were not giving the public the op-tion to choose.
The other disconcerting thing is that, the Nabua and nearby areas are serviced by possibly one pharmacy. This leaves members of the public little or no choice and at the ‘mercy’ of a monopolistic trader.
COLIN DEOKI
Australia
Medicine price
Letter to Editor
Published in Fiji Times - 19/12/2010
Key Findings
21Pharmacy Trade PracticesThis part of the report deals with non-price issues in particular pharmacy practices in dispensing medicines to consumers.
Issues with Receipts This research has also highlighted many problems with the receipting procedures of these pharmacies. None of the 47 pharmacies provided individual medicine names on their receipts however, nineteen (19) provided itemised receipts using codes. Thirty two (32) pharmacies provided medicine price on their labels. Out of the 32 pharmacies that provided prices on their labels, 15 did not provide itemised receipts.
Three (3) pharmacies did not supply the basic information required by Fiji laws such as the company name, tax number, and company address and so on. These were Sugar City Pharmacy- Lautoka and Chovhan Pharmacy also in Lautoka and Patel Pharmacy in Sigatoka. Madison Pharmacy, Suva provided a chit with total price when re-quested for a receipt by our staff. In the Northern Division, Northern Drug Store, Labasa issued a receipt from “My Chemist” instead of a receipt specifically for Northern Drug Store. The owners are the same for both Drug Stores.
There were some pharmacies with receipts that had one code such as 005785 Prescription instead of the names of each medicine. There was no way a consumer could have known how much he/she paid for each medication. An interesting finding here was that Wyse Pharmacies in Nakasi and Valelevu have the same owner but Valelevu branch had prices clearly marked on each medication pack whereas the one in Nakasi did not do this. Wyse Nakasi instead provided a receipt with the total amount. One would assume that the same business would have similar practices however in this case the practice of pricing was different. Some of the practices used by the pharmacies in issuing receipts are a breach of Counter Inflation Act (Cap 73)
2
1
Pharmacy Trade Practices
Table 14: Non-disclosure of individual medicine prices
PHARMACY Location/Division
1 A.J.Swann Co Ltd Suva/Central Eastern
2 Life Pharmacy Nausori/ Central Eastern
3 Wyse Pharmacy Nakasi/ Central Eastern
4 Chovahan Pharmacy Ltd Lautoka/Western
5 Midway Pharmacy Ba/ Western
6 Western Medicare Pharmacy Lautoka/ Western
7 Island Pharmacy Ba/ Western
8 Patel Pharmacy Ltd Sigatoka/ Western
9 Naidu’s Medical Centre Rakiraki/Western
10 Health Care Chemist Tavua/ Western
Non-disclosure of individual medicine pricesIt should be noted that 10 pharmacies (see Table 14) did not provide price information on individual receipts or on the pack-age. Instead the total cost of medicine purchased was provided. Seven (7) of these pharmacies are in the Western Division while 3 are in the Central/Eastern Divisions. All 3 pharmacies in Labasa provided itemised receipts. However, Northern Drug Store, La-basa issued a ‘My Chemist’ receipt. To obtain individual prices of medicines, 11 pharmacies were contacted via telephone by Council staff. The team was unable to obtain pricing informa-tion from Naidu’s Medical Centre in Rakiraki. Furthermore, some pharmacies which issued receipts with total cost of medicine did have prices on individual medication packs but only on some of them. Other packets did not have prices on them. For example Life Pharmacy in Nadi did not provide prices on the packets of simvastatin, metformin and frusemide. Some of these pharma-cies, for example, Chovhan Pharmacy Ltd, Midway Pharmacy, Ba did not provide itemised receipts but sold generics at originator brand price.
22 Presence of PharmacistA pharmacist is required to check the prescrip-tions before dispensing medicines. 35 out of 47 pharmacies surveyed did not have a pharmacist visible within the premises. The Council staff, who were posing as consumers were either served by the Pharmacy Assistant or the Sales Assist-ant. However, a more firm conclusion about the presence of the pharmacist would have been possible, if there was a whole day’s surveillance in each pharmacy. The Council wishes to state that the onus is on the regulatory authorities to look into this and to be more vigilant on this is-sue. FPS should encourage pharmacists to wear a coat so that the public can identify a pharma-cist from other staff. The name of the pharmacist on duty should be made visible at all times.
Queries on prescription51% of pharmacies under survey made inquiries on the prescription and the patient, while 49% dispensed drugs without any further clarifica-tion. The two questions posed by the pharma-cies were age and the patient’s phone number. One pharmacy – Hyperchem Pharmacy, Ba re-quested the address of the patient, while Tha-korlal’s Pharmacy Nadi commented that the pa-tient “must be very sick and dying”
It should be noted that the higher number of queries on the prescription were made by the pharmacies in the Western Division. This was probably due to two factors; the prescription was from a Suva-based doctor and the purchas-er was non-Indian when the prescription was for an elderly Indian man.
DIVISIONS No. of Pharmacies
Queries made %
No queries made
%
Central/Eastern 23 3 13 20 87
Western 21 11 52.4 10 47.6
Northern 3 0 0 3 100
TOTAL 47 24 51 23 49
Wrong Name on Medicine PacketsPharmacy Plus of Suva incorrectly entered the patient’s name on the medicine packs. The purchaser’s name (Alisi) appeared on the packs instead of the patient’s name (Hari Ram) as per prescription (Case 1). Similarly, Life Pharmacy in Nadi incorrectly entered the patient’s second name (Ram) and had “Prasad” instead (Case 2).
3 4
5
6
Choice over generic or originator brand medicinesDuring our survey, none of the pharmacies asked the buyer whether he/she wanted generics or originator brand of medicines. The general rule amongst pharmacists is to dispense generic drugs when presented with a hospital prescription 9. Some pharmacies dispensed originator brand even though generic versions are commonly avail-able. For example, 500mg of generic metformin was available at Budget Pharmacy for at $0.85 while an originator brand was sold for $7.95 at Namaka Medisure Pharmacy, Nadi which is ten times more.
Pharmacy Trade Practices
9 Information provided by our industry expert.
23Wrong strength dispensed One common practice among pharmacies is to dispense the correct medicine but with an incorrect dosage. There is a general assumption that a pharmacist as a professional would dispense the correct dosage of medication as and when required. Too little or too much of any medication could have adverse effect on one’s health. There are several examples of this. Thakorlal’s Pharmacy in Lautoka dispensed 5 mg enalapril as seen on the packet but the label stated 10mg as per prescription. A consumer unknowingly would have consumed a lower dose which is contrary to the doctor’s recommendation. Such mistakes can be fatal. This pharmacy also incorrectly stated that the doctor was from Lautoka Hospital instead of CWM hospital.
Sugar City Pharmacy in Lautoka dispensed 15 amoxicillin capsules when the prescription required a dosage of 9 capsules. The prescription clearly stated no repeats for this particular anti-biotic. In another case Wyse Pharmacy in Valelevu dispensed 30 tablets of 100mg
Aspirin tablets with instructions on the label to” take one tablet daily after food”. The prescription stated a dosage 150mg aspirin per day for a month.
In other cases, Thakorlal’s Pharmacy, Nadi dispensed 28 tablets of 20mg of simvastatin - Crescent rather than 30 tablets of 20mg. Life Pharmacy, Nausori dispensed 40 tablets of 5g of glipizide – Minidiab instead of 30 and Naidu’s Medical Centre issued 20 tablets of 5mg of glipizide – Minidiab. Rewa Pharmacy – Nausori changed the dose and dispensed 20/40mg of simvastatin – Arrow instead of 30/20mg.
Fraudulent Sale Three pharmacies were found selling generic medication labelled as originator brand and also charging origi-nator brand price. Thakorlal Pharmacy in Nadi, and Wyse Pharmacy in Nakasi dispensed generic frusemide tablets Apo but labelled it as Laxis which is an originator brand tablet and also charged the price of Laxis ($4. 65) which is much more expensive than generic Apo ($1.35
7
8
Pharmacy Trade Practices
24Problems with labelsNineteen (19) pharmacies violated labelling re-quirements in one way or another. An apparent issue with labelling was the directions for use of the medicine. For example, Life Pharmacy- Nausori had hand written directions on all the labels of its medication. The problem here was that these instructions could easily fade through handling or if it gets wet. A number of pharma-cies did not have any directions for the use of medication on their labels while there were some which not only had clear directions for use but also had auxiliary labels with additional cautionary advice such as “avoid taking alcohol or grape fruit juice while taking the medication”. There needs to be a standardisation of practice in the labelling of labelling medication.
Pharmacy located in same building as medical practitioners or near each otherIn Nadi, two pharmacies situated on Lodhia Street are each housed in the same building as medical practi-tioners. Life Pharmacy is located next door in the same building as Faizal’s Medical Centre. The next building is Health First Pharmacy housed under the same building as Zen’s Medical Centre. The survey found a $10.08 prescription pack price difference between Life Pharmacy ($22.00) and Health Pharmacy ($32.08). In Suva, the same goes for Amy Street Pharmacy located within the Suva Private Hospital pharmacy. The issue here is the restriction of consumer choice as doctors are more likely to recommend these pharmacies to their patients. Moreover, inpatient and outpatient’s choice on pharmacies can be very limited in this case.
9
10
Pharmacy Trade Practices
25
Pharmacy ownership laws are totally exploited by select-ed individuals through false information. In some cases names are lent to operate limited liability companies but the people whose names are used had migrated as far back as 1987 or are working for some other organisation or are non pharmacists. Non pharmacists who appear as owners must have been given token shares for use of their names.
Under the Pharmacy and Poisons Act (Cap 115), Section 18 (d) all the share capital of the body corporate is owned by registered pharmacists. Our company search has found that there are 9 non-pharmacists who have shares in phar-macies. This does not include others who had migrated.
The Council expects the reasons for including of non-pharmacists are for financial assistance to start the compa-ny. However, financial help also amounts to direct interfer-ence in the independence of pharmacies and the ability of a pharmacist to make decisions based on ethics rather than purely on financial gains. This was evident in the sur-vey where originator brand medicine was dispensed in-stead of generics which are widely available and the same brand and quantity sold at exorbitant price. Over charg-ing was evident which is a direct result of interference. It must be noted that when a few individuals are involved in a web of cross ownership of pharmacies and subsidiar-ies, we cannot discount the high probability of cartel-like behaviour or price fixing.
In one case the company documents of Flagstaff Phar-macy, Metro Pharmacy and Nasese Pharmacy were faxed
from the same source where information for Superdrug Pharmacy, Nabua; Central Pharmacy, Suva; Superdrug Pharmacy, Suva; and City Centre Pharmacy was faxed.
The ownership of pharmacies by medical practitioners while illegal under the current laws is also a very worrying trend as both diagnosis and dispensing can be compro-mised for maximum profits.
Fiji Islands Revenue and Customs Authority (FIRCA) should determine through its own investigation s whether com-panies’ and their shareholders are accurately declaring their income for tax purposes. There are violations, for ex-ample non–pharmacists are shareholders in some cases and in a few cases the same shareholder(s) own multi-ple pharmacies according to the Registrar of Companies’ records.
Non-pharmacist Pharmacy having ownership in
Swadesh Prabha Ram Sugar City Pharmacy
Virendra Shantilal PatelBarti Ben
Patel Pharmacy
Hamida Khan Namaka Medisure
Jone Finiasi Metro Pharmacy Suva
Jone Finiasi Nasese Pharmacy Suva
Dr Bijend Ram Rewa Pharmacy
Kalyan Sunil Kumar Laucala Bay Pharmacy
Ajay Ram Khelawan Nausori Pharmacy
Table16: Pharmacy Ownership
Pharmacy Ownership
There are certain pharmacy owners who own more
than two pharmacies, they would have to either sell or close down the additional pharmacies they operate.
“
”Dr. Neil Sharma - Minister of Health, Fiji.
Pharmacy Ownership
26
The Consumer Council found a majority of those pharma-cies surveyed were engaging in profiteering. A consumer simply trusts the pharmacist, and believes that the pre-scription issued by the medical doctor will be dispensed in good faith by the pharmacist. Unfortunately, consumers’ trust in pharmacists for their health care had been violated by not allowing them the freedom to choose a generic or an originator brand of medication, not issuing proper receipts and engaging in fraudulent practices.
The study has indicated that information is not readily available to patients/consumers (even to the educated cit-izens) on medicines and prices which they should know. Due to the lack of such information, consumers are solely dependent on the local pharmacies/chemists for the in-formation on types, prices, alternatives and other param-eters for the selection of medicines. It was also observed that whatever little communication that exists between the pharmacists and consumers it often not easily under-stood.
The survey was done realistically and objectively keeping in view the importance of the health sector. It should be reiterated that the role of the pharmaceutical sector is to conduct business within the laws of the country as well as keeping the citizens health and well being in mind. Profits are important for any business but it must not be at the expense of the innocent patients or consumers. The medi-cal field has advanced so much that this day and age the main focus globally is access to affordable drugs.
The pharmaceutical sector needs to work with relevant Government agencies in making the accessibility and af-fordability of medicines a genuine concern for the well be-ing and health of our citizens.
RECOMMENDATIONSBased on these findings, the Council recommends the following measures be adopted by the Ministry of Health and other concerned organizations dealing with health-care issues and ensuring a better dispensing services of medicines at affordable prices:
1. To acknowledge that there have been breaches and unfair trade practices by the pharmaceutical sector and that the enforcement agencies have not been vigilant;
2. Pharmacy and Poisons Board together with PIB (Commerce Commission) to prosecute pharmacies if breaches have occurred. The Council will supply the dispensed medications as evidence, if required. This must be done by thoroughly scrutinising all in-voices which are less than 3 months of supply date as purchases would have been made within that time frame. This must be done urgently because the Coun-cil wishes to recover money spent on the purchase of these medications;
3. The Price Control Order is now some 18 years out of date thus urgently needs to be reviewed and amend-ed to address Fiji’s increasing cost of health care. PIB has neither carried out any review of the Price Control Order on medicines nor has it produced any formal monitoring report to gauge compliance. PIB/Com-merce Commission should play a more active role in monitoring and enforcing Price Control Orders and where possible prosecute offending pharmacists;
Conclusion and Recommendations
The Consumer Council of Fiji survey adds credibility to the notion that some pharmacies are overcharging consumers either by
pricing more expensive brands first or deliberately not informing consumers of the availability of cheaper generic medicine.
It will be interesting to see what action is taken to ensure consumers are made aware of their right to proper medication
at a price that is justified and fair.
“
”Editorial comment – Fiji Times (19/11/2010)
Conclusion and Recommendations
274. Pharmacy and Poisons Board needs to take a more
proactive role in regulating the industry and its practices. The governing legislation, Pharmacy and Poisons Act appears to regulate registration and de-registration of pharmacists under Section 5 and 33 respectively. This law needs to be better enforced. The Council calls for an urgent review of the Pharmacy and Poisons Board to make this body effective and ef-ficient in enforcing the laws and in attending to com-plaints. Membership should include representatives from enforcement agencies, consumer groups and NGOs for transparency and effectiveness of the board;
5. The law also establishes the Fiji Pharmaceutical Soci-ety (Section 32B). They need to strengthen their code of ethics and monitor market practices. The society also needs to undertake regular training and edu-cation to up-skill its members and ensure that they are up to date with the changing role of pharmacists in the health sector. They should have merit system whereby certain points are acquired to qualify for an-nual registration. Registration requirements should be made clearer in the legislation and should include what is considered bad marketing practices;
6. A price list of common drugs consumed for common illnesses should be prominently displayed at pharma-cies. PIB/Commerce Commission to list these in a re-vised price order;
7. The Ministry of Health to impose a strict “Code of Con-duct” that must be practised by all pharmacies. The Code of Conduct has to be a binding document and any breaches to it should lead to fines or cancellation of licenses;
8. Fiji Islands Revenue and Customs Authority (FIRCA) can investigate whether companies and their share-holders are accurately and truthfully declaring their income for tax purposes. There are violations, for ex-ample non–pharmacists are shareholders in some cases and in a few cases the same shareholder(s) own multiple pharmacies according to the Registrar of Companies’ records;
9. FPS to ensure its members wear professional attire (e.g white coat) so that the public can differentiate a pharmacist from other pharmacy staff. FSP should also require that pharmacies display the pharmacist’s name that is on duty at one particular period of time;
10. FPS, the Ministry of Health and the Consumer Coun-cil of Fiji should educate consumers on the different categories of medicines – generics, branded generics and originator brands, including labelling informa-tion;
11. Pharmacies should display information on the prices of essential, commonly used drugs. Such information will assist consumers to compare prices before pur-chasing medicines;
12. FPS and the Ministry of Health should set up guide-lines for dispensing of drugs. Providing consumer drug information for all parties involved will empower consumers to make informed decisions thus safe-guarding their rights to health and information;
13. The Ministry of Health/Commerce Commission should also look at the importers and distributors of pharmaceuticals in Fiji to ensure competition. The Council’s coverage of this survey did not include this aspect but this is an important feature which should be looked at separately by relevant agencies; and
14. The Government to implement the recommenda-tions of the study so as to empower the citizens of Fiji and rid of any room for manipulation by pharmacies to protect their health interests.
Conclusion and Recommendations
28
Bailey, M. 2004. Affordability of Medicines in Fiji. http://www.haiweb.org/medicineprices/surveys/200409FJ/survey_report.pdf
Fiji Bureau of Statistics (2010), Preliminary Report : Poverty and Household Incomes in Fiji in 2008-09.
Fiji Republic Gazette Supplement, No.26, Friday 5th June, 1992; Legal Notice No.69, Counter-Inflation Act (Chapter 73), Counter-Inflation (Price Control), Ethical Medicine, No.5, Order, 1992.
MedilinePlus online service of the United States National Library of Medicine, From the National Institutes of Health, www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo (Accessed 12 June 2010) – Medicine description and use (Table 1).
Ministry of Health, October 2009. Monitoring of Pharmaceutical Prices in Private Sector.
Ministry of Health, October 2009. Naturopathic Medicine- Retailing in Fiji.
Panapasa G., 2010, ‘Symposium on NCDs’, Fiji Times, 6 July.
Speech of the Ministry for Health, Dr Neil Sharma delivered to members of the Fiji Pharmaceutical Society, Natadola, Nadi, 29th Nov 2009. Www. www.health.gov.fj/speeches/29/11/2009--fiji-pharmaceutical-societynatadola.html (Accessed 15 June 2010)
References
References
29AppendixResponse From Pharmacy and Poisons Board
Response From Pharmacy and Poisons Board
30 Response From Fiji Pharmaceutical Society
Response From Fiji Pharmaceutical Society
31
Response From Fiji Pharmaceutical Society
32CE
NTR
AL/
EAST
ERN
DIV
ISIO
N
NoPh
arm
acy
Med
icatio
n To
tal P
rice
Com
men
ts/No
tes
Fruse
mide
30/4
0mg
Aspir
in
30/1
50m
g
Met
form
in
30/5
00m
g
Simva
statin
30/2
0mg
Enala
pril
30/1
0mg
Amox
icillli
n
9/50
0mg
Glipi
zide
30/5
mg
*1A.
J. Sw
ann C
o Ltd
, Suv
aM
icrola
b $2
.00(In
dia)
$1.25
Pure
Phar
ma
$2.00
(P
ure P
harm
a Ltd
)
Batch
# 80
002
Expir
y Dat
e: 06
/201
1
Arro
w
$5.00
Batch
# SA
WH0
022
Expir
y Dat
e: 10
/201
1
Suna
pril
$3.25
(S
uvik
Hite
k Pvt
Ltd)
Batch
#
0002
Expir
y Dat
e:
12/2
012
Stalm
ox
$2.45
(S
tallio
n La
bora
torie
s Pvt
Ltd
)
Batch
#
STL/
801
Expir
y Dat
e: 11
/201
1
Mini
diab
$3.45
(P
fizer
Pty L
td)
Batch
# L9
27B
Expir
y Dat
e:
07/2
012
$19.4
0-P
rices
wer
e ite
mize
d on t
he re
ceipt
bu
t med
icine
nam
es
were
not
men
tione
d to s
how
what
the c
ost o
f eac
h med
icine
was
.
-Med
icine
pack
ets a
lso di
d not
have
price
s.
2Am
y Stre
et Ph
arm
acy
Lasix
$4
.18(In
dia)
$1.36
Met
ofen
$1
.38
(Wind
las Bi
otec
h Ltd
)
Batch
# W
0500
2E
Expir
y Dat
e: 08
/201
1
Wins
tatin
$3
.15
(Wind
las
Biot
ech L
td)
Batch
# W
2800
1E
Expir
y Da
te:08
/201
1
Prilo
ten
$3.69
(G
lobal
Phar
ma
Healt
h Car
e Pvt
Ltd)
Batch
#
890
Expir
y Dat
e: 09
/201
2
Amox
ywil
$1.61
(P
rawi
l Lab
orat
ories
Ltd
)
Mini
diab
$3.49
Batch
# M
111A
Expir
y Dat
e: 09
/201
2
$18.8
5
3Ce
ntra
l Pha
rmac
y, Su
vaLa
six
$4.65
(San
ofis
Aven
tis
Austr
alia P
ty
Ltd)
Batch
# No
t Sta
ted
Expir
y Dat
e: 10
/201
2
India
$1
.75Pu
re Ph
arm
a $1
.95
(Pur
e Pha
rma
Ltd)
Batch
# 80
002
Expir
y Dat
e: 06
/201
1
Arro
w $1
1.55
Batch
# SA
WH0
023
Expir
y Dat
e: 10
/201
1
Renit
ec
$13.3
5 (M
erck
Shar
p &
Dohm
e Pty
Ltd
Batch
#
N321
9
Expir
y Dat
e:
08/2
011
Amox
ywil
$2.25
(P
rawi
l Lab
orat
ories
Ltd
Expir
y Dat
e: 09
/08/
2011
Mini
diab
$3.00
(P
fizer
Pty L
td)
Batch
# L9
42A
Expir
y Dat
e: 07
/201
2
$38.5
0-R
eceip
t had
only
tota
l cos
t of m
edici
ne pu
rchas
ed.
-For
the m
edici
ne pa
cket
s, pr
ices w
ere o
nly f
ound
on La
six, E
nalap
ril, a
nd
Amox
icillin
& M
etfo
rmin
while
Asp
irin,
Sim
vasta
tin &
Mini
diab p
acke
ts did
not h
ave a
ny pr
ice on
them
.
-
4Cit
y Cen
tre
Phar
mac
y, Su
vaLa
six
$4.35
(India
) $1
.20Pu
re Ph
arm
a $1
.95
(Pur
e Pha
rma
Ltd)
Batch
#
8000
2
Expir
y Dat
e: 06
/201
1
Simca
rd
$11.5
5 (C
ipla L
td
Batch
#
G978
38
Expir
y Dat
e: 05
/201
2
Prilo
ten
$3.75
(G
lobal
Phar
ma
Healt
h Car
e Pvt
Ltd)
Batch
#
890
Expir
y Dat
e: 09
/201
2
Apo
$1.71
Mini
diab
$3.75
(P
fizer
Pty L
td)
Batch
# L9
42A
Expir
y Dat
e: 07
/201
2
$28.2
6
Individual Medicine Prices & CommentsIn
divi
dual
Med
icin
e P
rices
& C
omm
ents
335
Flags
taff
Phar
mac
y, Su
vaLa
six
$4.65
(India
) $1
.45Pu
re Ph
arm
a $1
.95
(Pur
e Pha
rma
Ltd)
Batch
# 80
002
Expir
y Dat
e: 06
/201
1
Simca
rd
$9.75
(C
ipla L
td)
Batch
# G9
7838
Expir
y Dat
e: 05
/201
2
Invo
ril
$3.45
(R
anba
xy
Labo
rato
ries L
td)
Batch
# 19
5251
2
Expir
y Dat
e: 08
/201
0
Peem
ox
$2.65
(P
ure P
harm
a Ltd
)
Batch
# 90
001
Expir
y Dat
e: 03
/201
1
Mini
diab (
40)
$4.85
(P
fizer
Pty L
td)
Batch
# M
111A
Expir
y Dat
e: 09
/201
2
$28.7
5Qu
antit
y of t
ablet
s was
not m
entio
ned o
n any
of th
e sev
en m
edica
tions
.
6Go
od H
ealth
Care
Phar
mac
y, Su
vaLa
six
$4.35
(India
) $1
.20Xm
et
$1.95
Wins
tatin
$3
.15
(Wind
las
Biot
ech L
td)
Batch
# W
2800
1E
Expir
y Dat
e:
09/2
011
Prilo
ten
$3.75
(G
lobal
Phar
ma
Healt
h Car
e Pvt
Ltd)
Batch
# 89
0
Expir
y Dat
e: 09
/201
2
Gene
rics
$1.71
DHA
$2.25
(D
rug H
ouse
s of
Austr
alia(
Asia)
Pte
Ltd, S
ingap
ore)
Batch
#
8045
6
Expir
y Dat
e: 05
/201
2
$18.3
5
7Gu
ardia
n Ang
el Ph
arm
acy,
L/Be
ach N
asinu
Micr
olab
$1.95
(India
) $0
.75Lo
ose T
abs
$1.95
Wins
tatin
$3
.15
(Wind
las
Biot
ech L
td)
Batch
# W
2800
1E
Expir
y Dat
e: 09
/201
1
Invo
ril
$2.25
(R
anba
xy
Labo
rato
ries L
td)
Batch
# 19
5251
2
Expir
y Dat
e: 08
/201
0
Stalm
ox
$1.85
(S
tallio
n La
bora
torie
s Pvt
Ltd
)
Batch
# ST
L/80
1
Expir
y Dat
e: 11
/201
0
Mini
diab
$3.45
(P
fizer
Pty L
td
Batch
# L9
42A
Expir
y Dat
e: 07
/201
2
$15.3
5
8Ho
listic
Phar
mac
y, Su
vaLa
six
$4.35
(S
anofi
s Av
entis
Au
strali
a Pty
Ltd
)
Batch
# 80
4882
6
Expir
y Dat
e: 10
/201
2
(India
) $0
.60Pu
re Ph
arm
a $1
.05
(Pur
e Pha
rma
Ltd)
Batch
# 80
002
Expir
y Dat
e: 06
/201
1
Arro
w $4
.05
Batch
# SA
WH0
022
Expir
y Dat
e: 10
/201
1
Flam
inopr
il $1
.65 (F
laming
o Ph
arm
aceu
ticals
Ltd
)
Batch
# 18
68
Expir
y Dat
e: 08
/201
1
NAM
inidia
b $3
.45
(Pfiz
er Pt
y Ltd
)
Batch
# M
111A
Expir
y Dat
e:
09/2
012
$15.1
5M
edici
ne pa
cket
s had
auxil
iary l
abels
with
addit
ional
caut
ionar
y adv
ice to
he
lp pa
tient
s tak
e pre
caut
ions w
hile o
n med
icatio
n.
9La
ucala
Bay P
harm
acy,
Suva
Micr
olab
$1.20
(India
) $1
.35Pu
re Ph
arm
a $1
.65
(Pur
e Pha
rma
Ltd)
Batch
#
8000
2
Expir
y Dat
e: 06
/201
1
Arro
w
$6.45
Batch
# SA
WH0
025
Expir
y Dat
e: 10
/201
1
Flam
inopr
il $2
.25
(Flam
ingo
Phar
mac
eutic
als
Ltd)
Batch
# 18
68
Expir
y Dat
e: 08
/201
1
Peem
ox
$2.25
Pu
re Ph
arm
a Ltd
Expir
y Dat
e: 03
/201
1
Mini
diab
$3.45
(P
fizer
Pty L
td)
Batch
# M
111A
Expir
y Dat
e: 09
/201
2
$18.6
0-P
rices
wer
e ite
mize
d on t
he re
ceipt
but m
edici
ne na
mes
wer
e not
m
entio
ned t
o sho
w wh
at th
e cos
t of e
ach m
edici
ne w
as.
-For
the m
edici
ne pa
cket
s, pr
ices w
ere o
nly f
ound
on En
alapr
il, Sim
vasta
tin, M
etfo
rmin
& Gl
ipizid
e whe
reas
Asp
irin,
Frus
emide
&
Amox
icillin
did n
ot ha
ve pr
ices o
n the
pack
ets.
Individual Medicine Prices & CommentsIn
divi
dual
Med
icin
e P
rices
& C
omm
ents
(con
tinue
d).
34*1
0Lif
e Pha
rmac
y, Na
usor
i M
ircola
b $1
.50(In
dia)
$1.50
Pure
Phar
ma
$1.50
(P
ure P
harm
a Ltd
)
Batch
# 80
002
Expir
y Dat
e: 06
/201
1
Arro
w $6
.00
Batch
# SA
WH0
023
Expir
y Dat
e: 10
/201
1
Flam
inopr
il $1
.50
(Flam
ingo
Phar
mac
eutic
als
Ltd)
Batch
#
1868
Expir
y Dat
e: 08
/201
1
NAM
inidia
b (40
) $2
.50
(Pfiz
er Pt
y Ltd
)
Batch
#
L942
A
Expir
y Dat
e: 07
/201
2
$14.5
0-L
abels
are h
and w
ritte
n.
-No p
rope
r lab
elling
with
no m
entio
n of p
harm
acy n
ame,
cont
act e
tc.
11M
adiso
n Pha
rmac
y, Su
vaM
icrola
b $1
.00(In
dia)
$1.00
Flam
ingo
$1.50
(Fl
aming
o Ph
arm
aceu
ticals
Ltd
)
Batch
#
227
Expir
yDat
e: 05
/201
1
Arro
w $7
.50
Batch
# SA
WH0
019
Expir
y Dat
e: 07
/201
1
Flam
inopr
il $3
.45
(Flam
ingo
Phar
mac
eutic
als
Ltd)
Batch
#
1868
Expir
y Dat
e: 08
/201
1
Pulm
oxyl
$2
.45
(Flam
ingo
Phar
mac
eutic
als
Ltd)
Batch
#
PXFB
0304
Expir
y Dat
e: 06
/201
1
Mini
diab
$3.00
(P
fizer
Pty L
td)
Batch
# L9
27B
Expir
y Dat
e: 07
/201
2
$19.9
0Di
d not
issu
e pro
per r
eceip
t, jus
t pro
vided
a ch
it wi
th to
tal p
rice i
n han
d wr
itten
whe
n req
uest
was m
ade f
or a
rece
ipt by
our s
taff.
12M
ega C
are P
harm
acy,
Mak
oi,
Nasin
uLa
six
$4.35
(India
) $0
.60Pu
re Ph
arm
a $1
.05
(Pur
e Pha
rma
Ltd)
Batch
# 80
002
Expir
y Dat
e: 06
/201
1
Simca
rd
$9.75
(C
ipla L
td)
Batch
# G9
7838
Expir
y Dat
e: 05
/201
2
Invo
ril
$4.05
(R
anba
xy
Labo
rato
ries L
td)
Batch
# 19
5251
2
Expir
y Dat
e: 08
/201
0
NAM
inidia
b $3
.45
(Pfiz
er Pt
y Ltd
)
Batch
# M
111A
Expir
y Dat
e: 09
/201
2
$23.2
5- R
eceip
t had
only
tota
l cos
t of m
edici
ne pu
rchas
ed.
-Asp
irin p
acke
t had
no pr
ice.
13M
etro
Phar
mac
y, Su
va
Lasix
$4
.65(In
dia)
$1.35
Pure
Phar
ma
$1.95
(P
ure P
harm
a Ltd
)
Batch
#
8000
2
Expir
y Dat
e: 06
/201
1
Simca
rd
$11.5
5 (C
ipla L
td)
Batch
#
G978
38
Expir
y Dat
e: 05
/201
2
Suna
pril
$1.95
(S
uvik
Hite
k Pvt
Ltd)
Batch
#
0002
Expir
y Dat
e: 12
/201
2
NAM
inidia
b $3
.75
(Pfiz
er Pt
y Ltd
)
Batch
#
M11
1A
Expir
y Dat
e:
09/2
012
$25.2
0
14Na
sese
Phar
mac
y , Su
vaM
icrola
b $1
.95(In
dia)
$1.95
Phar
mac
or
$3.45
(P
harm
acor
Ltd)
Batch
#
KW9G
59
Expir
y Dat
e: 09
/201
2
Simca
rd –
$1
1.55
(Cipl
a Ltd
)
Batch
# G9
7838
Expir
y Dat
e: 05
/201
2
Invo
ril –
$4
.05
(Ran
baxy
La
bora
torie
s Ltd
)
Batch
#
1952
512
Expir
y Dat
e:
08/2
010
Peem
ox
$2.45
(P
ure P
harm
a Ltd
)
Batch
#
8000
6
Expir
y Dat
e: 02
/201
1
Mini
diab (
40)
$4.45
(P
fizer
Pty L
td)
Batch
# M
111A
Expir
y Dat
e: 09
/201
2
$29.8
5
Individual Medicine Prices & CommentsIn
divi
dual
Med
icin
e P
rices
& C
omm
ents
(con
tinue
d).
3515
Naus
ori P
harm
acy L
td, N
auso
riM
icrola
b $1
.95(In
dia)
$1.20
Flam
ingo
$1.95
(Fl
aming
o Ph
arm
aceu
ticals
Ltd
)
Batch
#
227
Expir
y Dat
e: 05
/201
1
Simca
rd
$11.5
5 (C
ipla L
td)
Batch
#
G978
38
Expir
y Dat
e: 05
/201
2
Flam
inopr
il $3
.45
(Flam
ingo
Phar
mac
eutic
als
Ltd)
Batch
#
1868
Expir
y dat
e: 08
/11
Apo
$1.71
Mini
diab
$3.45
(P
fizer
Pty L
td)
Batch
#
M11
1A
Expir
y Dat
e: 09
/201
2
$25.2
6
16Ph
arm
acy P
lus, S
uva
Apo
$1.95
(India
) $1
.20Fla
ming
o $1
.65
(Flam
ingo
Phar
mac
eutic
als
Ltd)
Batch
# 22
7
Expir
y Dat
e: 05
/201
1
Arro
w $7
.95
Batch
# SA
WH0
021
Expir
y Dat
e: 10
/201
1
Flam
inopr
il $1
.95
(Flam
ingo
Phar
mac
eutic
als
Ltd)
Batch
#
1868
Expir
y Dat
e:
08/2
011
Apo
$2.45
Mini
diab
$3.15
(P
fizer
Pty L
td)
Batch
#
M11
1A
Expir
y Dat
e:
09/2
012
$20.3
0Ha
d the
wro
ng pa
tient
nam
e on t
he m
edici
ne pa
cket
s. Th
e nam
e of o
ur
purch
aser
“Alis
i” app
eare
d on t
he m
edici
ne pa
cket
s ins
tead
of pa
tient
s na
me (
Hari R
am) o
n the
pres
cript
ion.
17Re
wa Ph
arm
acy,
Naus
ori
Micr
olab
$1.95
(India
) $0
.60M
etof
en
$1.95
(W
indlas
Biot
ech
Ltd)
Batch
# W
0500
2E
Expir
y Dat
e: 08
/201
1
Arro
w (2
0/40
mg)
$3
.65
Batch
# SA
FH00
15
Expir
y Dat
e: 01
/201
1
Prilo
ten
$3.75
(G
lobal
Phar
ma
Healt
h Car
e Pvt
Ltd)
Batch
#
890
Expir
y Dat
e: 09
/201
2
Amox
ywil
$1.71
(P
rawi
l Lab
orat
ories
Ltd
)
Expir
y Dat
e: 08
/201
1
NA$1
3.60
-Inste
ad of
30Sim
vasta
tin ta
blets
only
20 w
ere d
ispen
sed a
nd th
e dir
ectio
n for
use o
f this
med
icatio
n was
wro
ngly
writt
en on
the l
abel.
The
dir
ectio
n sta
ted ‘
take
half (
1/2)
table
t at n
ight (
bedt
ime)
’ whe
n in a
ctual
fact t
he di
recti
on sh
ould
be ta
ke on
e tab
let da
ily.
18Sa
mab
ula D
rug
Stor
e,Sam
abula
Durin
$1
.95(In
dia)
$1.05
Flam
ingo
$1.65
(Fl
aming
o Ph
arm
aceu
ticals
Ltd
)
Batch
# 22
7
Expir
y Dat
e: 05
/201
1
Arro
w $4
.05
Batch
# SA
WH0
023
Expir
y Dat
e: 10
/201
1
Flam
inopr
il $1
.95
(Flam
ingo
Phar
mac
eutic
als
Ltd)
Batch
#
1868
Expir
y Dat
e: 08
/201
1
Apo
$1.80
Mini
diab
$3.45
(P
fizer
Pty L
td)
Batch
#
L942
A
Expir
y Dat
e:
07/2
012
$15.9
0
19Su
perd
rug P
harm
acy,
Nabu
aM
icrola
b $1
.95(In
dia)
$1.05
Pure
Phar
ma
$1.95
(P
ure P
harm
a Ltd
)
Batch
# 80
02
Expir
y Dat
e: 06
/201
1
Simca
rd
$11.5
5 (C
ipla L
td)
Batch
#
G978
38
Expir
y Dat
e: 05
/201
2
Suna
pril
$1.95
(S
uvik
Hite
k Pvt
Ltd)
Batch
#
0002
Expir
y Dat
e: 12
/201
2
NAM
inidia
b (40
) $4
.85
(Pfiz
er Pt
y Ltd
)
Batch
#
M11
1A
Expir
y Dat
e: 09
/201
2
$23.3
0
Individual Medicine Prices & CommentsIn
divi
dual
Med
icin
e P
rices
& C
omm
ents
(con
tinue
d).
3620
Supe
rdru
g Pha
rmac
y, Su
vaLa
six
$4.65
(India
) $1
.00Di
aform
in $6
.15
(Alph
a Pha
rma)
Batch
#
A144
G
Expir
y Dat
e: 12
/201
2
Simca
rd
$11.5
5 (C
ipla L
td)
Batch
#
G978
38
Expir
y Dat
e: 05
/201
2
Suna
pril
$3.45
(S
uvik
Hite
k Pvt
Ltd)
Batch
#
9179
Expir
y Dat
e:
08/2
012
GSK
$7.95
(G
laxao
Smith
Kl
ine)
Batch
#
1333
Expir
y Dat
e: 06
/201
1
Mini
diab
$4.05
(40)
(P
fizer
Pty L
td)
Batch
#
M11
1A
Expir
y Dat
e: 09
/201
2
$38.8
0M
edici
ne pa
cket
s had
auxil
iary l
abels
with
addit
ional
caut
ionar
y adv
ice to
he
lp pa
tient
s tak
e pre
caut
ions w
hile o
n med
icatio
n.
21Su
va Ci
ty Ph
arm
acy,
Suva
La
six
$4.35
(India
) $1
.20Fla
ming
o $1
.95
(Flam
ingo
Phar
mac
eutic
als
Ltd)
Batch
#
227
Expir
y Dat
e: 05
/201
1
Arro
w $7
.50
Batch
# SA
WH0
007
Expir
y Dat
e: 10
/201
1
Flam
inopr
il $1
.95
(Flam
ingo
Phar
mac
eutic
als
Ltd)
Batch
#
1868
Expir
y Dat
e: 08
/201
1
NAM
inidia
b (40
) $4
.45
(Pfiz
er Pt
y Ltd
)
Batch
#
M11
1A
Expir
y Dat
e: 09
/201
2
$21.4
0
*22
Wys
e Pha
rmac
y, Na
kasi
Micr
olab
$4.10
(India
)(2
0/30
0mg)
$2
.25
Pure
Phar
ma
$1.85
(P
ure P
harm
a Ltd
)
Batch
#
8000
2
Expir
y Dat
e: 06
/201
1
Simca
rd
$11.5
5 (C
ipla L
td)
Batch
# G9
7838
Expir
y Dat
e: 05
/201
2
Invo
ril
$4.50
(R
anba
xy
Labo
rato
ries L
td)
Batch
# 19
5251
2
Expir
y Dat
e: 08
/201
0
Peem
ox
$1.85
(P
ure P
harm
a Ltd
)
Batch
#
9000
1
Expir
y Dat
e: 03
/201
1
Mini
diab (
40)
$3.55
(P
fizer
Pty L
td)
Batch
#
L942
A
Expir
y Dat
e:
07/2
012
$29.6
5-W
yse P
harm
acy i
n Nak
asi &
Valel
evu h
as th
e sam
e own
er bu
t Wys
e Ph
arm
acy i
n Vale
levu h
ad pr
ices c
learly
mar
ked o
n eac
h med
icatio
n pa
cket
s whe
reas
the o
ne in
Nak
asi d
id no
t do t
his; in
stead
give
a re
ceipt
wi
th to
tal a
mou
nt on
ly.
-Disp
ense
d gen
eric
Fruse
mide
table
ts AP
O bu
t lab
elled
it as
Laxis
whic
h is
a bra
nded
table
t & al
so ch
arge
d the
price
of br
ande
d Lax
is wh
ich is
muc
h m
ore e
xpen
sive t
han g
ener
ic AP
O.
23W
yse P
harm
acy,
Valel
evu
Lasix
$4
.35
(San
ofis
Aven
tis
Austr
alia P
ty
Ltd)
Batch
# 80
5069
1
Expir
y Dat
e: 01
/201
2
(India
) $0
.60Pu
re Ph
arm
a $1
.05
(Pur
e Pha
rma L
td)
Batch
#
8000
2
Expir
y Dat
e:
06/2
011
Simca
rd
$11.5
5 (C
ipla L
td)
Batch
#
G876
18
Expir
y Dat
e: 03
/201
1
Invo
ril
$2.25
(R
anba
xy
Labo
rato
ries L
td)
Batch
#
1952
512
Expir
y Dat
e: 08
/201
0
Peem
ox
$1.53
(P
ure P
harm
a Ltd
)
Expir
y Dat
e:
02/2
011
Mini
diab
$3.15
(P
fizer
Pty L
td)
Batch
#
L927
B
Expir
y Dat
e: 07
/201
2
$24.5
0-
WES
TERN
DIV
ISIO
N
Individual Medicine Prices & CommentsIn
divi
dual
Med
icin
e P
rices
& C
omm
ents
(con
tinue
d).
3724
Budg
et Ph
arm
acy,
Nadi
Lasix
$4
.20(In
dia)
$0.85
Met
ofen
$1
.65
(Wind
las Bi
otec
h Ltd
)
Batch
#
W05
002E
Expir
y Dat
e: 08
/201
1
Arro
w $2
.95
Batch
#
SAW
H001
9
Expir
y Dat
e:
07/2
011
Prilo
ten
$3.70
(G
lobal
Phar
ma
Healt
h Car
e Pvt
Ltd)
Batch
#
890
Expir
y Dat
e: 09
/201
2
Amox
ywil
$1.65
(P
rawi
l Lab
orat
ories
Ltd
)
Mini
diab
$3.20
(P
fizer
Pty L
td)
Batch
#
M11
1A
Expir
y Dat
e: 09
/201
2
$18.0
0
25Ca
re Ch
emist
, Siga
toka
Flam
ingo
$1.95
Card
iprin
(30/
100m
g)
$4.61
Batch
#
9177
01
Expir
y Dat
e: 01
/05/
2011
Flam
ingo
$1.53
(Fl
aming
o Ph
arm
aceu
ticals
Ltd
)
Batch
#
227
Expir
y Dat
e:
05/2
011
Arro
w
$3.28
Batch
#:
SAW
H001
9
Expir
y Dat
e: 07
/201
1
Flam
inopr
il $3
.42
(Flam
ingo
Phar
mac
eutic
als
Ltd)
Batch
# 18
68
Expir
y Dat
e: 08
/201
1
Apo
$2.44
Mini
diab
$3.08
(P
fizer
Pty L
td)
Batch
#
M11
1A
Expir
y Dat
e: 09
/201
2
$20.3
1
26Ch
andu
lal’s P
harm
acy
Micr
olab
$1.35
(India
) $0
.90Fla
ming
o $1
.95
(Flam
ingo
Phar
mac
eutic
als
Ltd)
Batch
#
227
Expir
y Dat
e:
05/2
011
Arro
w
$4.05
Batch
# SA
WH0
007
Expir
y Dat
e:
01/2
011
M-E
nalap
ril
$4.95
Apo
$3.15
Mini
diab
$3.45
(P
fizer
Pty L
td)
Batch
#
L942
A
Expir
y Dat
e: 07
/201
2
$19.8
0
*27
Chov
han P
harm
acy L
td,
Laut
oka
Micr
olab
$4.65
(India
) (2
0/30
0mg)
$2
.70
Pure
Phar
ma
$2.70
(P
ure P
harm
a Ltd
)
Batch
#
8000
2
Expir
y Dat
e: 06
/201
1
Arro
w
$7.50
Batch
# SA
WH0
023
Expir
y Dat
e:
10/2
011
Flam
inopr
il $5
.00
(Flam
ingo
Phar
mac
eutic
als
Ltd)
Batch
# 18
68
Expir
y Dat
e: 08
/201
1
Apo
$4.00
Mini
diab
$4.45
(P
fizer
Pty L
td)
Batch
# M
111A
Expir
y Dat
e: 09
/201
2
$31.0
0-R
eceip
t issu
ed di
d not
have
com
pany
nam
e, ta
x num
ber, c
ompa
ny
addr
ess e
tc.
- Rec
eipt h
ad on
ly to
tal c
ost o
f med
icine
purch
ased
.
-Med
icine
pack
ets a
lso di
d not
have
price
s.
Individual Medicine Prices & CommentsIn
divi
dual
Med
icin
e P
rices
& C
omm
ents
(con
tinue
d).
38*2
8He
alth C
are C
hem
ist, T
avua
Micr
olab
$1.50
(India
) $0
.75Fla
ming
o $1
.50
(Flam
ingo
Phar
mac
eutic
als
Ltd)
Batch
# 22
4
Expir
y Dat
e: 05
/201
1
Cres
cent
(2
8/20
mg)
$1
8.00
(Cre
scent
Ph
arm
a Ltd
)
Batch
#
0801
6
Expir
y dat
e: 02
/201
1
Flam
inopr
il $3
.00
(Flam
ingo
Phar
mac
eutic
als
Ltd)
Batch
#
1868
Expir
y Dat
e: 08
/201
1
Blue
-yell
ow
$2.95
DHA
$3.00
(D
rug H
ouse
s of
Austr
alia(
Asia)
Pte
Ltd, S
ingap
ore)
Batch
#
8045
6
Expir
y Dat
e: 05
/201
2
$30.7
0- R
eceip
t had
only
tota
l cos
t of m
edici
ne pu
rchas
ed.
-Med
icine
pack
ets a
lso di
d not
have
price
s.
29He
alth F
irst P
harm
acy,
Nadi
Lasix
$4
.63(In
dia)
$0.73
Flam
ingo
$1.48
(Flam
ingo
Phar
mac
eutic
als
Ltd)
Batch
# 22
7
Expir
y Dat
e:
05/2
011
Simca
rd
$11.5
9 (C
ipla L
td)
Batch
#
G978
38
Expir
y Dat
e: 05
/201
2
Flam
inopr
il $3
.29
(Flam
ingo
Phar
mac
eutic
als
Ltd)
Batch
#
1868
Expir
y Dat
e: 08
/201
1
GSK
$7.17
(G
laxao
Smith
Kline
)
Batch
#
1333
Expir
y Dat
e: 06
/201
1
Mini
diab
$3.19
(P
fizer
Pty L
td)
Batch
#
M11
1A
Expir
y Dat
e:
09/2
012
$32.0
8
30Hy
perch
em Ph
arm
acy,
BaLa
six
$4.38
(India
(3
0/81
mg)
$2
.21
Flam
ingo
$1.95
(Fl
aming
o Ph
arm
aceu
ticals
Ltd
)
Batch
# 22
7
Expir
y Dat
e: 05
/201
1
Arro
w $5
.10
Batch
# SA
WH0
021
Expir
y Dat
e: 10
/201
1
Flam
inopr
il $1
.73
(Flam
ingo
Phar
mac
eutic
als
Ltd)
Batch
#
106
Expir
y Dat
e: 05
/201
0
Amox
ywil
$2.00
(P
rawi
l Lab
orat
ories
Ltd
)
Batch
#
PC00
7
Expir
y Dat
e: 08
/201
1
Mini
diab (
40)
$4.20
(P
fizer
Pty L
td)
Batch
#
L927
B
Expir
y Dat
e: 07
/201
2
$21.5
5
31Hy
perch
em Ph
arm
acy,
Laut
oka
Lasix
$4
.18So
lprin
(16/
300m
g)
$1.25
Batch
#
8172
03
Expir
y Dat
e: 01
/06/
2010
Gluc
opha
ge
$6.73
(A
lpha P
harm
a)
Batch
#:
1000
46
Expir
y Dat
e: 07
/201
3
Simca
rd
$9.83
(C
ipla L
td)
Batch
# G9
7838
Expir
y Dat
e: 05
/201
2
Renit
ec
$13.0
1 (M
erck
Shar
p &
Dohm
e (Au
strali
a)
Pty L
td
Batch
# N2
047
Expir
y Dat
e: 04
/201
1
GSK
$6.16
(G
laxao
Smith
Kline
)
Batch
#
1342
Expir
y Dat
e: 07
/201
1
Mini
diab
$3.08
(P
fizer
Pty L
td)
Batch
#
L927
B
Expir
y Dat
e: 09
/201
2
$44.2
5
32Isl
and P
harm
acy C
omple
x, Na
diLa
six
$2.85
(S
anofi
s Av
entis
Pa
kista
n Pty
Ltd
)
Batch
#
HC04
4
Expir
y Dat
e: 08
/201
4
(India
) $1
.00Xm
et
$1.65
Acta
vis
$6.45
(R
elon C
hem
Ltd
)
Batch
#
K204
4
Expir
y Dat
e: 02
/201
2
Suna
pril
$2.25
(S
uvik
Hite
k Pvt
Ltd)
Batch
#
9179
Expir
y Dat
e: 08
/201
2
GSK
$7.20
(G
laxao
Smith
Kline
)
Batch
#
1333
Expir
y Dat
e: 06
/201
1
Mini
diab
$3.15
(P
fizer
Pty L
td)
Batch
#:
L927
B
Expir
y Dat
e: 07
/201
2
$24.5
5-P
rices
wer
e ite
mize
d on t
he re
ceipt
but m
edici
ne na
mes
wer
e not
m
entio
ned t
o sho
w wh
at th
e cos
t of e
ach m
edici
ne w
as.
-Med
icine
pack
ets a
lso di
d not
have
price
s.
-
Individual Medicine Prices & CommentsIn
divi
dual
Med
icin
e P
rices
& C
omm
ents
(con
tinue
d).
39*3
3Isl
and P
harm
acy,
BaM
icrola
b $2
.50(In
dia)
$1.50
Xmet
$2
.00Cr
esce
nt
$9.00
(C
resce
nt
Phar
ma L
td)
Batch
#
0801
6
Expir
y dat
e: 02
/201
1
Suna
pril
$3.00
(S
uvik
Hite
k Pvt
Ltd)
Batch
#
0002
Expir
y Dat
e: 12
/201
2
Stalm
ox
$7.00
(S
tallio
n Lab
orat
ories
Pt
y Ltd
)
Batch
#
STL/
801
Expir
y Dat
e: 11
/201
0
Mini
diab
$3.50
(P
fizer
Pty L
td)
Batch
#
L927
B
Expir
yDat
e: 07
/201
2
$28.5
0- R
eceip
t had
only
tota
l cos
t of m
edici
ne pu
rchas
ed.
34Lif
e Pha
rmac
y Ltd
, Nad
iLa
six
$4.00
(India
) $0
.73Gl
ucop
hage
$6
.70
(Alph
a Pha
rma)
Batch
#
1000
46
Expir
y Dat
e :07
/201
3
Arro
w $4
.05
Batch
# SA
WH0
019
Expir
y Dat
e: 07
/201
1
Flam
inopr
il $1
.73
(Flam
ingo
Phar
mac
eutic
als
Ltd)
Batch
# 18
68
Expir
y Dat
e: 08
/201
1
Apo
$1.67
Mini
diab
$3.12
(P
fizer
Pty L
td)
Batch
# M
111A
Expir
y Dat
e: 09
/201
2
$22.0
0W
rong
nam
e on t
he la
bel.
‘Har
i Pra
sad’
inste
ad of
‘Har
i Ram
’.
-
*35
Midw
ay Ph
arm
acy,
BaM
icrola
b $4
.65(In
dia)
$2.70
Flam
ingo
$2.70
(Fl
aming
o Ph
arm
aceu
ticals
Ltd
)
Batch
#
227
Expir
y Dat
e: 05
/201
1
Arro
w $7
.50
Batch
#
SAW
H002
1
Expir
y Dat
e: 10
/201
1
Flam
inopr
il $5
.00
(Flam
ingo
Phar
mac
eutic
als
Ltd)
Batch
#
106
Expir
y Dat
e:
05/2
010
Amox
ywil
$4.00
(P
rawi
l Lab
orat
ories
Ltd
)
Batch
#
PC00
7
Expir
y Dat
e: 08
/201
1
DHA
$4.45
(D
rug H
ouse
s of
Austr
alia(
Asia)
Pte
Ltd, S
ingap
ore)
Batch
#
8045
6
Expir
y Dat
e: 05
/201
2
$18.0
0 -
Rece
ipt ha
d onl
y tot
al co
st of
med
icine
purch
ased
.
-Med
icine
pack
ets a
lso di
d not
have
price
s
36M
S Pha
rmac
y, Na
diLa
six
$4.18
(S
anofi
s Av
entis
Au
strali
a Pty
Ltd
)
Batch
# 80
4882
6
Expir
y Dat
e: 10
/201
2
(India
) $0
.90Di
aform
in $6
.00
(Alph
a Pha
rma)
Batch
#
A633
F
Expir
y Dat
e: 10
/201
2
Wins
tatin
$3
.45
(Wind
las
Biot
ech L
td)
Batch
# W
2800
1E
Expir
y Dat
e: 09
/201
1
Prilo
ten
$3.70
(G
lobal
Phar
ma
Healt
h Car
e Pvt
Ltd)
Batch
#
890
Expir
y Dat
e: 09
/201
2
GSK
$3.60
(G
laxao
Smith
Kline
)
Mini
diab
$3.50
(P
fizer
Pty L
td)
Batch
#: M
111A
Expir
y Dat
e: 09
/201
2
$25.3
5
37Na
di Ch
emist
, Nad
iM
icrola
b $0
.83(In
dia)
$0.73
Flam
ingo
$1.48
(Fl
aming
o Ph
arm
aceu
ticals
Ltd
)
Batch
#:
227
Expir
y Dat
e: 05
/201
1
Arro
w $3
.08
Batch
#:
SAW
H002
3
Expir
y Dat
e:
10/2
011
Flam
inopr
il $1
.73
(Flam
ingo
Phar
mac
eutic
als
Ltd)
Batch
# 18
68
Expir
y Dat
e: 08
/201
1
Apo
$2.11
DHA
$3.49
(D
rug H
ouse
s of
Austr
alia(
Asia)
Pte
Ltd, S
ingap
ore)
$13.4
5
Individual Medicine Prices & CommentsIn
divi
dual
Med
icin
e P
rices
& C
omm
ents
(con
tinue
d).
40*3
8Na
idu’s M
edica
l Cen
treAp
o
No Pr
ice
(India
)
No Pr
ice
Pure
Phar
ma
No Pr
ice
(Pur
e Pha
rma L
td)
Batch
#
8000
2
Expir
y Dat
e: 06
/201
1
Simca
rd
No Pr
ice
(Cipl
a Ltd
)
Batch
#
G978
38
Expir
y Dat
e: 05
/201
2
Invo
ril
No Pr
ice
(Ran
baxy
La
bora
torie
s Ltd
)
Batch
#
1952
512
Expir
y Dat
e: 08
/201
0
Peem
ox (2
0)
No Pr
ice
(Pur
e Pha
rma L
td)
Batch
#
9000
1
Expir
y Dat
e: 03
/201
1
Mini
diab
(20)
No Pr
ice
(Pfiz
er Pt
y Ltd
)
Batch
#
K841
A
Expir
y Dat
e: 01
/201
2
$30.5
0- R
eceip
t had
only
tota
l cos
t of m
edici
ne pu
rchas
ed.
-Med
icine
pack
ets a
lso di
d not
have
price
s
39Na
mak
a Med
isure
Phar
mac
y, Na
diAp
o
$2.55
(India
) (2
5/30
0mg)
$1.45
Gluc
opha
ge
$7.95
(L
ipha
Phar
mac
eutic
als)
Batch
#
1026
55
Expir
y Dat
e: 05
/201
3
Simca
rd
$9.45
(C
ipla L
td)
Batch
#
G876
18
Expir
y Dat
e: 03
/201
1
Invo
ril
$4.05
(R
anba
xy
Labo
rato
ries L
td)
Batch
#
1952
512
Expir
y Dat
e: 08
/201
0
Ram
baxy
$5
.40
(Ran
baxy
La
bora
torie
s Ltd
)
Batch
#
2002
564
Mini
diab
$3.45
(P
fizer
Pty L
td)
Batch
#
L942
A
Expir
y Dat
e 07
/201
2
$31.0
0
*40
Pate
l Pha
rmac
y Ltd
, Siga
toka
Micr
olab
$1.50
(India
)
$1.00
Flam
ingo
$1.80
(Flam
ingo
Phar
mac
eutic
als
Ltd)
Batch
# :22
7
Expir
y Da
te:05
/201
1
Arro
w
$15.0
0
Batch
#
SAW
H002
1
Expir
y Da
te:10
/201
1
Flam
inopr
il $4
.00
(Flam
ingo
Phar
mac
eutic
als
Ltd)
Batch
#
1868
Expir
y Dat
e: 08
/201
1
Pulm
oxyl
$3.70
(M
icrola
bs Lt
d)
Mini
diab
$3.50
(P
fizer
Pty L
td)
Batch
#
L942
A
Expir
y Dat
e: 07
/201
2
$30.5
0-R
eceip
t issu
ed di
d not
have
com
pany
nam
e, ta
x num
ber, c
ompa
ny
addr
ess e
tc.
- Rec
eipt h
ad on
ly to
tal c
ost o
f med
icine
purch
ased
.
-Med
icine
pack
ets a
lso di
d not
have
price
s
41Su
gar C
ity Ph
arm
acy L
td,
Laut
oka
Micr
olab
$1.65
(India
) (30
)
$1.45
Flam
ingo
$1.95
(Flam
ingo
Phar
mac
eutic
als
Ltd)
Batch
# 20
1
Expir
y Da
te:09
/201
0
Arro
w
$5.85
Batch
#
SAW
H002
3
Expir
y Da
te:10
/201
1
M-E
nalap
ril
$3.15
Apo
(15)
$3.45
Mini
diab
$4.05
(P
fizer
Pty L
td)
Batch
#
M11
1A
Expir
y Dat
e: 09
/201
2
$21.5
5-R
eceip
t issu
ed di
d not
have
com
pany
nam
e, ta
x num
ber, c
ompa
ny
addr
ess e
tc.
- Disp
ense
d 15 A
mox
icillin
caps
ules w
hen p
rescr
iption
stat
ed a
dose
of
9cap
sules
. Ove
rdos
e of m
edici
ne.
Individual Medicine Prices & CommentsIn
divi
dual
Med
icin
e P
rices
& C
omm
ents
(con
tinue
d).
4142
Thak
orlal
’s Pha
rmac
y, La
utok
aLa
six
$4.63
(S
anofi
s Av
entis
Au
strali
a Pty
Ltd
)
Batch
#:
8048
862
Expir
y Dat
e: 10
/201
2
(India
) $1
.06Di
aform
in $6
.10
(Alph
a Pha
rma)
Batch
#
196D
Expir
y Dat
e: 05
/201
2
Cres
cent
(2
8)
$5.85
(C
resce
nt
Phar
ma L
td)
Batch
#
0801
6
Expir
y Dat
e: 02
/201
1
Suna
pril
(5m
g)
$2.07
(S
uvik
Hite
k Pvt
Ltd)
Batch
# 92
17
Expir
y Dat
e: 11
/201
2
GSK
$7.24
(G
laxo S
mith
Kline
)
Expir
y Dat
e: 06
/201
1
Mini
diab
$3.22
(P
fizer
Pty L
td)
Batch
#
L942
A
Expir
y Dat
e: 07
/201
2
$30.1
7-U
nder
dose
of m
edici
ne. D
ispen
sed 5
mg o
f Ena
lapril
give
n onc
e dail
y ins
tead
of th
e pre
scribe
d 10m
g.
43Th
akor
lal’s P
harm
acy,
Nadi
Apo
$4.65
(India
) (3)
$1
.45Pu
re Ph
arm
a $3
.45
(Pha
rmac
or Lt
d)
Batch
#
KW9G
59
Expir
y Dat
e: 09
/201
2
Simca
rd
$9.75
(C
ipla L
td)
Batch
# G9
7838
Expir
y Dat
e: 05
/201
2
Rent
ic $1
3.05
(Mer
ch Sh
arp &
Do
hme (
Austr
alia)
Pt
y Ltd
)
Batch
#
N321
9
Expir
y Dat
e: 08
/201
1
Nova
mox
-LB
$3.69
(C
ipla L
td)
Batch
#
DT93
27
Expir
y Dat
e: 02
/201
1
Mini
diab (
40)
$4.05
(P
fizer
Pty L
td)
Batch
#
M11
1A
Expir
y Dat
e: 09
/201
2
$40.1
0-D
ispen
sed g
ener
ic Fru
sem
ide ta
blets
APO
but l
abell
ed it
as La
xis w
hich i
s a b
rand
ed ta
blet &
also
char
ged t
he pr
ice of
bran
ded L
axis
which
is m
uch
mor
e exp
ensiv
e tha
n gen
eric
APO.
*44
Wes
tern
Med
icare
Phar
mac
y, Ba
Micr
olab
$4.50
(India
) (30
) $2
.00Di
aform
in $6
.00
(Alph
a Pha
rma)
Batch
#
A462
D
Expir
y Dat
e: 05
/201
2
Wins
tant
in $1
0.00
(Wind
las
Biot
ech L
td)
Batch
# W
2800
1E
Expir
y Dat
e: 09
/201
1
Renit
ec
$9.00
(M
erch
Shar
p &
Dohm
e (Au
strali
a)
Pty L
td)
Batch
# N2
047
Expir
y Dat
e: 04
/201
1
GSK
$5.85
(G
laxao
Smith
Kline
)
Batch
#
1333
Mini
diab (
30)
$3.15
(P
fizer
Pty L
td)
Batch
# M
111A
Expir
y Dat
e: 09
/201
2
$40.5
0- R
eceip
t had
only
tota
l cos
t of m
edici
ne pu
rchas
ed.
-Med
icine
pack
ets a
lso di
d not
have
price
s
NO
RTH
ERN
DIV
ISIO
N
45M
y Che
mist
, Lab
asa
Micr
olab
$1.95
(India
) $0
.75Fla
ming
o $1
.95
(Flam
ingo
Phar
mac
eutic
als
Ltd)
Batch
#
227
Expir
y Dat
e: 05
/201
1
Arro
w $9
.45
Batch
# SA
WH0
019
Expir
y Dat
e:
07/2
011
Invo
ril
$4.05
(R
anba
xy
Labo
rato
ries L
td)
Batch
# 19
5251
2
Expir
y Dat
e: 08
/201
0
Apo
$1.80
Mini
diab
$3.45
(P
fizer
Pty L
td)
Batch
#
L942
A
Expir
y Dat
e: 07
/201
2
$23.4
0
Individual Medicine Prices & CommentsIn
divi
dual
Med
icin
e P
rices
& C
omm
ents
(con
tinue
d).
4246
Nase
a Che
mist
, Lab
asa
Apo
$1.35
(India
) $0
.75Fla
ming
o $1
.35
(Flam
ingo
Phar
mac
eutic
als
Ltd)
Batch
#:
227
Expir
y Dat
e: 05
/201
1
Arro
w $9
.45
Batch
#
SAW
H001
9
Expir
y Dat
e: 07
/201
1
Invo
ril
$3.45
(R
anba
xy
Labo
rato
ries L
td)
Batch
# 19
5251
2
Expir
y Dat
e: 08
/201
0
Apo
$1.71
Mini
diab
$3.75
(P
fizer
Pty L
td)
Batch
#
L942
A
Expir
y Dat
e: 07
/201
2
$21.8
0
47No
rther
n Dru
g Sto
re, La
basa
Apo
$4.65
(India
) $0
.75Fla
ming
o $1
.35
(Flam
ingo
Phar
mac
eutic
als
Ltd)
Batch
#:
227
Expir
y Dat
e: 05
/201
1
Arro
w $9
.45
Batch
# SA
WH0
019
Expir
y Dat
e: 07
/201
1
Invo
ril
$4.05
(R
anba
xy
Labo
rato
ries L
td)
Batch
# 19
5251
2
Expir
y Dat
e: 08
/201
0
Apo
$1.80
Mini
diab
$3.45
(P
fizer
Pty L
td)
Batch
#: L9
42A
Expir
y Dat
e: 07
/201
2
$25.5
0Iss
uing s
ame r
eceip
t as
My C
hem
ist.
NB: *
Phar
mac
ies th
at w
ere c
alled
for m
edici
ne pr
ices
Individual Medicine Prices & CommentsIn
divi
dual
Med
icin
e P
rices
& C
omm
ents
(con
tinue
d).
43
Price Comparisons: Same medicine, batch number, manufacturer/source country
Pric
e Co
mpa
rison
s: S
ame
med
icin
e, b
atch
num
ber,
man
ufac
ture
r/so
urce
cou
ntry
.Ph
arm
acy N
ame
Med
icine
/Dru
g Na
me
Man
ufac
ture
rBa
tch
NoEx
piry
Dat
e Co
mm
ents
AM
OXICI
LLIN
Peem
ox Am
oxici
llin, s
ame #
, sou
rce co
untry
, 10/
500m
gW
yse P
harm
acy,
Naka
siPe
emox
$1.85
(Pur
e Pha
rma L
td, In
dia)
9000
103
/201
1Fla
gsta
ff Ph
arm
acy,
Suva
sells
it fo
r $2.6
5 whil
e Wys
e Pha
rmac
y, Na
kasi
for $
1.85,
a diff
eren
ce of
$0.80
Flags
taff
Phar
mac
y, Su
vaPe
emox
$2.65
(Pur
e Pha
rma L
td, In
dia)
9000
103
/201
1St
almox
Amox
icillin
, sam
e #, s
ource
coun
try 10
/500
mg
A.J.
Swan
n Co L
td, S
uva
Stalm
ox $2
.45(S
tallio
n Lab
orat
ories
Pvt L
td, In
dia)
STL/
801
11/2
010
Guar
dian A
ngel
Phar
mac
y, Su
va so
ld St
almox
amox
icillin
for $
1.85 w
hile I
sland
Phar
mac
y, Ba
sold
the s
ame f
or $7
.00, a
diff
eren
ce of
$5.15
or 27
8%.
Guar
dian A
ngel
Phar
mac
y, L/
Beac
h St
almox
$1.85
(Sta
llion L
abor
ator
ies Pv
t Ltd
, India
)ST
L/80
111
/201
0Isl
and P
harm
acy,
BaSt
almox
$7.00
(Sta
llion L
abor
ator
ies Pv
t Ltd
, India
)ST
L/80
111
/201
0GS
K Am
oxici
llin 9/
500m
gHe
alth F
irst P
harm
acy,
Nadi
GSK $
7.17
(Glax
ao Sm
ith Kl
ine Au
strali
a Pty
Ltd)
1333
06/2
011
A sm
all pr
ice di
ffere
nce o
f $0.0
3 bet
ween
Hea
lth Fi
rst an
d Isla
nd Ph
arm
acy,
Nadi.
Islan
d Pha
rmac
y Com
plex,
Nadi
GSK $
7.20
(Glax
ao Sm
ith Kl
ine, A
ustra
lia Pt
y Ltd
)13
3306
/201
1
** AS
PIRI
N –
No co
mpa
rison
s asp
irin t
ablet
s wer
e loo
se ta
blets
wher
eby t
here
wer
e no m
anuf
actu
rer n
ame,
batch
num
ber a
nd ex
piry d
ates
give
n.
ENAL
APRI
L
Flam
inopr
il Ena
lapril
– 30
/10m
g
Holis
tic Ph
arm
acy,
Suva
Flam
inopr
il $1.6
5 Fla
ming
o Pha
rmac
eutic
als Lt
d, In
dia18
6808
/201
1
High
est t
price
of Fl
amino
pril e
nalap
ril (1
868)
was
$5.00
reco
rded
in th
e Wes
t at C
hovh
an Ph
arm
acy L
auto
ka, w
hile l
owes
t pr
ices o
f $1.5
0 was
reco
rded
at Li
fe Ph
arm
acy N
auso
ri. Pr
ice di
ffere
nce –
233%
. Sam
e pric
e of $
1.95 o
ffere
d by P
harm
acy
Plus,
Sam
abula
Dru
g Sto
re an
d Suv
a City
Phar
mac
y. Lif
e Pha
rmac
y, Na
di an
d Nad
i Che
mist
also
had t
he sa
me p
rice o
f $1.7
3.
Lauc
ala Ba
y Pha
rmac
y, Su
vaFla
mino
pril $
2.25
Flam
ingo P
harm
aceu
ticals
Ltd,
India
1868
08/2
011
Life P
harm
acy,
Naus
ori
Flam
inopr
il $1.5
0Fla
ming
o Pha
rmac
eutic
als Lt
d, In
dia18
6808
/201
1M
adiso
n Pha
rmac
y, Su
vaFla
mino
pril $
3.45
Flam
ingo P
harm
aceu
ticals
Ltd,
India
1868
08/2
011
Phar
mac
y Plus
, Suv
aFla
mino
pril $
1.95
Flam
ingo P
harm
aceu
ticals
Ltd,
India
1868
08/2
011
Sam
abula
Dru
g Sto
re,Sa
mab
ulaFla
mino
pril $
1.95
Flam
ingo P
harm
aceu
ticals
Ltd,
India
1868
08/2
011
Suva
City
Phar
mac
y, Su
va
Flam
inopr
il $1.9
5Fla
ming
o Pha
rmac
eutic
als Lt
d, In
dia18
6808
/201
1Ca
re Ch
emist
, Siga
toka
Flam
inopr
il $3.4
2(Fl
aming
o Pha
rmac
eutic
als Lt
d, In
dia)
1868
08/2
011
Chov
han P
harm
acy L
td, L
auto
kaFla
mino
pril $
5.00
(Flam
ingo P
harm
aceu
ticals
Ltd,
India
)18
6808
/201
1He
alth C
are C
hem
ist, T
avua
Flam
inopr
il $3.0
0(Fl
aming
o Pha
rmac
eutic
als Lt
d, In
dia)
1868
08/2
011
Healt
h Firs
t Pha
rmac
y, Na
diFla
mino
pril $
3.29
(Flam
ingo P
harm
aceu
ticals
Ltd,
India
)18
6808
/201
1Lif
e Pha
rmac
y Ltd
, Nad
iFla
mino
pril $
1.73
(Flam
ingo P
harm
aceu
ticals
Ltd,
India
)18
6808
/201
1Na
di Ch
emist
, Nad
iFla
mino
pril $
1.73
(Flam
ingo P
harm
aceu
ticals
Ltd,
India
)18
6808
/201
1Na
usor
i Pha
rmac
y Ltd
Flam
inopr
il $3.4
5Fla
ming
o Pha
rmac
eutic
als Lt
d, In
dia)
1868
08/2
011
Pate
l Pha
rmac
y Ltd
, Siga
toka
Flam
inopr
il $4.0
0(Fl
aming
o Pha
rmac
eutic
als Lt
d, In
dia)
1868
08/2
011
Invo
ril En
alapr
il – 30
/10m
g
44
Price Comparisons: Same medicine, batch number, manufacturer/source country
Flags
taff
Phar
mac
y, Su
vaIn
voril
$3.4
5Ra
nbax
y Lab
orat
ories
Ltd,
India
1952
512
08/2
010
Nine
(9) p
harm
acies
sold
Invo
ril en
alapr
il fro
m Ra
nbax
y Lab
orat
ories
Ltd,
India
. The
med
icine
bore
the s
ame b
atch
num
ber
1952
512 a
nd ex
piry d
ate o
f 08/
2010
. The
high
est p
rice w
as re
cord
ed by
Wys
e Pha
rmac
y Nak
asi a
t $4.5
0 and
inte
resti
ngly
Wys
e Vale
levu h
as th
e low
est p
rice o
f $2.2
5. Th
e pric
e diff
eren
ce be
twee
n the
two W
yse b
ranc
hes f
or th
e sam
e med
icine
is
a 100
%. G
uard
ian An
gel p
harm
acy a
lso so
ld it
at th
e low
est p
rice o
f $2.2
5. In
the N
orth
ern D
ivisio
n, N
asea
Chem
ist so
ld In
voril
enala
pril f
or $3
.45 w
hile t
he ot
her 2
phar
mac
ies fo
r $4.0
5, a p
rice d
iffer
ence
of $0
.60.
Guar
dian A
ngel
Phar
mac
y, L/
Beac
h Nas
inuIn
voril
$2.2
5Ra
nbax
y Lab
orat
ories
Ltd,
India
1952
512
08/2
010
Meg
a Car
e Pha
rmac
y, M
akoi,
Nas
inuIn
voril
$4.05
Ranb
axy L
abor
ator
ies Lt
d, In
dia19
5251
208
/201
0W
yse P
harm
acy,
Naka
siIn
voril
$4.50
Ranb
axy L
abor
ator
ies Lt
d, In
dia
1952
512
08/2
010
Wys
e Pha
rmac
y, Va
lelev
uIn
voril
$2.25
Ranb
axy L
abor
ator
ies Lt
d, In
dia
1952
512
08/2
010
Nase
se Ph
arm
acy ,
Suva
Invo
ril $4
.05Ra
nbax
y Lab
orat
ories
Ltd,
India
1952
512
08/2
010
My C
hem
ist, L
abas
aIn
voril
$4.05
(Ran
baxy
Labo
rato
ries L
td, In
dia19
5251
208
/201
0Na
sea C
hem
ist, L
abas
aIn
voril
$3.45
(Ran
baxy
Labo
rato
ries L
td, In
dia19
5251
208
/201
0No
rther
n Dru
g Sto
re, La
basa
Invo
ril $4
.05(R
anba
xy La
bora
torie
s Ltd
, India
19
5251
208
/201
0Pr
ilote
n Ena
lapril
– 30
/10m
g
Amy S
treet
Phar
mac
y Pr
ilote
n $3.6
9Gl
obal
Phar
ma H
ealth
Care
Pvt L
td,
India
890
09/2
012
Prilo
ten e
nalap
ril of
the s
ame b
atch
num
ber w
as so
ld by
4 ph
arm
acies
, all f
rom
the C
entra
l/Eas
tern
Divi
sion.
Amy S
treet
Ph
arm
acy s
old Pr
ilote
n ena
lapril
for $
3.69,
a mer
e $0.0
6 low
er th
an th
e oth
er th
ree s
elling
the s
ame m
edici
ne.
City C
entre
Phar
mac
y, Su
vaPr
ilote
n $3
.75Gl
obal
Phar
ma H
ealth
Care
Pvt L
td,
India
890
09/2
012
Good
Hea
lth Ca
re Ph
arm
acy,
Suva
Prilo
ten
$3.75
Glob
al Ph
arm
a Hea
lth Ca
re Pv
t Ltd
, In
dia89
009
/201
2
Rewa
Phar
mac
y, Na
usor
iPr
ilote
n $3.7
5Gl
obal
Phar
ma H
ealth
Care
Pvt L
td,
India
890
09/2
012
Suna
pril E
nalap
ril 30
/10m
gA.
J. Sw
ann C
o Ltd
, Suv
aSu
napr
il $3.2
5Su
vik H
itek P
vt Lt
d, In
dia00
0212
/201
2AJ
Swan
n’s pr
ice fo
r Sun
april
Enala
pril
(000
2) w
as $3
.25 w
hich w
as 66
% m
ore e
xpen
sive t
han t
he ot
her t
wo ph
arm
acies
se
lling t
he sa
me –
Met
ro Ph
arm
acy S
uva &
Supe
rdru
g Nab
ua -
$1.95
.M
etro
Phar
mac
y, Su
va
Suna
pril $
1.95
Suvik
Hite
k Pvt
Ltd,
India
0002
12/2
012
Supe
rdru
g Pha
rmac
y, Na
bua
Suna
pril $
1.95
Suvik
Hite
k Pvt
Ltd,
India
0002
12/2
012
Renit
ec En
alapr
il 30/
10m
g
Hype
rchem
Phar
mac
y, La
utok
aRe
nitec
$13.0
1(M
erck
Shar
p & D
ohm
e (Au
strali
a)
Pty L
tdN2
047
04/2
011
Hype
rchem
Laut
oka a
nd W
este
rn M
edica
re Ba
, Lau
toka
sold
Renit
ec en
alapr
il by t
he sa
me m
anuf
actu
rer a
nd ha
ving t
he
sam
e bat
ch nu
mbe
r. Hyp
erch
em ($
13.01
) was
45%
mor
e exp
ensiv
e tha
n Wes
tern
Med
icare
($9.0
0)W
este
rn M
edica
re Ph
arm
acy,
BaRe
nitec
$9.00
(Mer
ch Sh
arp &
Doh
me (
Austr
alia)
Pt
y Ltd
)N2
047
04/2
011
Flam
inopr
il Ena
lapril
30/1
0gm
Hype
rchem
Phar
mac
y, Ba
Flam
inopr
il $1.7
3(Fl
aming
o Pha
rmac
eutic
als Lt
d, In
dia)
106
05/2
010
Midw
ay Ph
arm
acy B
a sold
Flam
inopr
il ena
lapril
(Flam
ingo P
harm
aceu
ticals
, India
) for
$5.00
whil
e Hyp
erch
em Ba
sold
the
sam
e for
just
$1.73
.Cons
umer
s wou
ld ea
sily b
e pay
ing 18
9% m
ore f
or th
is m
edici
ne if
they
did n
ot ch
eck t
he pr
icing
in
thes
e out
lets w
hich a
re w
ithin
walki
ng di
stanc
e of e
ach o
ther.
Midw
ay Ph
arm
acy,
BaFla
mino
pril $
5.00
(Flam
ingo P
harm
aceu
ticals
Ltd,
India
)10
605
/201
0
Prilo
ten E
nalap
ril –
30/1
0mg
Budg
et Ph
arm
acy,
Nadi
Prilo
ten $
3.70
(Glob
al Ph
arm
a Hea
lth Ca
re Pv
t Ltd
, In
dia)
890
09/2
012
Sam
e pric
e of $
3.70 c
harg
ed by
the t
wo ph
arm
acies
for P
rilot
en en
alapr
il.M
S Pha
rmac
y, Na
diPr
ilote
n $3.7
0(G
lobal
Phar
ma H
ealth
Care
Pvt L
td,
India
)89
009
/201
2
FRUS
EMID
E La
six Fr
usem
ide 30
/40m
gCe
ntra
l Pha
rmac
y, Su
vaLa
six $4
.65Sa
nofis
Aven
tis Au
strali
a Pty
Ltd
Not S
tate
d10
/201
2Th
ree p
harm
acies
in Su
va so
ld La
six fr
om th
e sam
e man
ufac
ture
r. Cen
tral P
harm
acy S
uva d
id no
t hav
e the
batch
num
ber
visibl
e, ho
weve
r com
parin
g the
med
icine
on ba
sis of
“sam
e man
ufac
ture”
is su
fficie
nt. C
entra
l Pha
rmac
y’s pr
ice ($
4.65)
was
jus
t 6.9%
high
er th
an H
olisti
c Suv
a and
Wys
e Vale
levu.
Holis
tic Ph
arm
acy,
Suva
Lasix
$4.35
Sano
fis Av
entis
Austr
alia P
ty Lt
d80
4882
610
/201
2
Wys
e Pha
rmac
y, Va
lelev
uLa
six $4
.35Sa
nofis
Aven
tis Au
strali
a Pty
Ltd
8050
691
01/2
012
GLIP
IZIDE
Pric
e Co
mpa
rison
s: S
ame
med
icin
e, b
atch
num
ber,
man
ufac
ture
r/so
urce
cou
ntry
(con
tinue
d).
45M
inidia
b Glip
izide
30/5
mg –
sam
e bat
ch #
A.J.
Swan
n Co L
td, S
uva
Mini
diab $
3.45
(Pfiz
er Au
strali
a Pty
Ltd)
L927
B07
/201
2
Six ph
arm
acies
disp
ense
d the
sam
e Mini
diab b
atch
(L92
7B),
thre
e eac
h in t
he Ce
ntra
l/Eas
tern
and W
este
rn di
vision
s. Th
e high
est p
rice w
as re
cord
ed at
Islan
d Pha
rmac
y Ba (
$3.50
) whil
e the
chea
pest
was s
old by
Mad
ison S
uva (
$3.00
). The
pr
ice di
ffere
nce b
etwe
en th
e high
est a
nd lo
west
price
was
16.6%
.
Mad
ison P
harm
acy,
Suva
Mini
diab $
3.00
(Pfiz
er Au
strali
a Pty
Ltd)
L927
B07
/201
2W
yse P
harm
acy,
Valel
evu
Mini
diab $
3.15
(Pfiz
er Au
strali
a Pty
Ltd)
L927
B07
/201
2Hy
perch
em Ph
arm
acy,
Laut
oka
Mini
diab $
3.08
(Pfiz
er Au
strali
a Pty
Ltd)
L927
B07
/201
2Isl
and P
harm
acy C
omple
x, Na
diM
inidia
b $3.1
5(P
fizer
Austr
alia P
ty Lt
d)L9
27B
07/2
012
Islan
d Pha
rmac
y, Ba
Mini
diab $
3.50
(Pfiz
er Au
strali
a Pty
Ltd)
L927
B07
/201
2M
inidia
b Glip
izide
30/5
mg –
sam
e bat
ch #
Cent
ral P
harm
acy,
Suva
Mini
diab $
3.00
(Pfiz
er Au
strali
a Pty
Ltd)
L942
A07
/201
2
Ten p
harm
acies
disp
ense
d the
sam
e Mini
diab b
atch
L942
A. Th
e high
est p
rice r
ecor
ded w
as $3
.75 by
City
Cent
re
Phar
mac
y Suv
a and
Nas
ea Ch
emist
Laba
sa, w
hile t
he lo
west
was s
old by
Cent
ral P
harm
acy S
uva f
or $3
.00. T
he pr
ice
differ
ence
was
$0.75
or 25
%. (
Note
: Life
Phar
mac
y Nau
sori s
old th
e sam
e bat
ch m
edici
ne bu
t high
er do
sage
of 40
/5m
g fo
r $2.5
0)
City C
entre
Phar
mac
y, Su
vaM
inidia
b $3.7
5(P
fizer
Austr
alia P
ty Lt
d)L9
42A
07/2
012
Guar
dian A
ngel
Phar
mac
y, L/
Beac
h M
inidia
b $3.4
5(P
fizer
Austr
alia P
ty Lt
d)L9
42A
07/2
012
Chan
dulal
’s Pha
rmac
yM
inidia
b$3.4
5(P
fizer
Austr
alia P
ty Lt
d)L9
42A
07/2
012
Nam
aka M
edisu
re Ph
arm
acy,
Nadi
Mini
diab $
3.45
(Pfiz
er Au
strali
a Pte
Ltd)
L942
A07
/201
2Pa
tel P
harm
acy L
td, S
igato
kaM
inidia
b $3.5
0(P
fizer
Austr
alia P
te Lt
d)L9
42A
07/2
012
Thak
orlal
’s Pha
rmac
y, La
utok
aM
inidia
b $3.2
2(P
fizer
Austr
alia P
te Lt
d)L9
42A
07/2
012
My C
hem
ist, L
abas
aM
inidia
b $3.4
5(P
fizer
Austr
alia P
ty Lt
d)L9
42A
07/2
012
Nase
a Che
mist
, Lab
asa
Mini
diab $
3.75
(Pfiz
er Au
strali
a Pty
Ltd)
L942
A07
/201
2No
rther
n Dru
g Sto
re, La
basa
Mini
diab $
3.45
(Pfiz
er Au
strali
a Pty
Ltd)
L942
A07
/201
2M
inidia
b Glip
izide
30/5
mg –
sam
e bat
ch #
Amy S
treet
Phar
mac
yM
inidia
b $3.4
9(P
fizer
Austr
alia P
ty Lt
d)M
111A
09/2
012
High
est p
rice o
f $4.4
5 rec
orde
d Cho
vhan
Phar
mac
y Lau
toka
, whil
e the
chea
pest
was s
old by
Care
Chem
ist Si
gato
ka fo
r $3
.08, p
rice d
iffer
ence
being
44.5%
.
Holis
tic Su
va, L
auca
la Ba
y Pha
rmac
y, M
ega C
are M
akoi
and N
auso
ry Ph
arm
acy a
ll sold
Mini
diab g
lipizi
de (M
111A
) at
$3.45
. The
two L
auto
ka ph
arm
acies
– Ch
ovha
n and
Suga
r City
Phar
mac
y sold
the m
edici
ne fo
r pric
es ab
ove $
4.00.
Holis
tic Ph
arm
acy,
Suva
Mini
diab $
3.45
(Pfiz
er Au
strali
a Pty
Ltd)
M11
1A09
/201
2La
ucala
Bay P
harm
acy,
Suva
Mini
diab $
3.45
(Pfiz
er Au
strali
a Pty
Ltd)
M11
1A09
/201
2M
ega C
are P
harm
acy,
Mak
oi, N
asinu
Mini
diab $
3.45
(Pfiz
er Au
strali
a Pty
Ltd)
M11
1A09
/201
2M
etro
Phar
mac
y, Su
va
Mini
diab $
3.75
(Pfiz
er Au
strali
a Pty
Ltd)
M11
1A09
/201
2Na
usor
i Pha
rmac
y Ltd
, Nau
sori
Mini
diab $
3.45
(Pfiz
er Au
strali
a Pty
Ltd)
M11
1A09
/201
2Ph
arm
acy P
lus, S
uva
Mini
diab $
3.15
(Pfiz
er Au
strali
a Pty
Ltd)
M11
1A09
/201
2Bu
dget
Phar
mac
y, Na
diM
inidia
b$3.2
0(P
fizer
Austr
alia P
ty Lt
d)M
111A
09/2
012
Care
Chem
ist, S
igato
kaM
inidia
b$3.0
8(P
fizer
Austr
alia P
ty Lt
d)M
111A
09/2
012
Chov
han P
harm
acy L
td, L
auto
kaM
inidia
b$4.4
5(P
fizer
Austr
alia P
ty Lt
d)M
111A
09/2
012
Life P
harm
acy L
td, N
adi
Mini
diab$
3.12
(Pfiz
er Au
strali
a Pty
Ltd)
M11
1A09
/201
2M
S Pha
rmac
y, Na
diM
inidia
b$3.5
0(P
fizer
Austr
alia P
te Lt
d)M
111A
09/2
012
Suga
r City
Phar
mac
y Ltd
, Lau
toka
Mini
diab$
4.05
(Pfiz
er Au
strali
a Pte
Ltd)
M11
1A09
/201
2He
alth F
irst P
harm
acy,
Nadi
Mini
diab$
3.19
(Pfiz
er Au
strali
a Pty
Ltd)
M11
1A
09/2
012
Wes
tern
Med
icare
Phar
mac
y, Ba
Mini
diab$
3.15
(Pfiz
er Au
strali
a Pte
Ltd)
M11
1A09
/201
2M
inidia
b Glip
izide
40/5
mg –
sam
e bat
ch #
Supe
rdru
g Pha
rmac
y, Su
vaM
inidia
b $4.0
5 (P
fizer
Austr
alia P
ty Lt
d)M
111A
09/2
012
Supe
rdru
g, Fla
gsta
ff, N
ases
e, Su
perd
rug N
abua
and S
uva C
ity Ph
arm
acy s
old sa
me b
atch
Mini
diab g
lipizi
de at
40/5
mg.
The h
ighes
t pric
e in t
his gr
oup w
as ch
arge
d by F
lagsta
ff Ph
arm
acy a
nd Su
perd
rug N
abua
at $4
.85, w
hile S
uper
drug
Suva
ch
arge
d $0.8
0 les
s at $
4.05 t
han i
ts Na
bua b
ranc
h.
Flags
taff
Phar
mac
y, Su
vaM
inidia
b $4.8
5(P
fizer
Austr
alia P
ty Lt
d)M
111A
09/2
012
Nase
se Ph
arm
acy ,
Suva
Mini
diab $
4.45
(Pfiz
er Au
strali
a Pty
Ltd)
M11
1A09
/201
2Su
perd
rug P
harm
acy,
Nabu
aM
inidia
b $4.8
5(P
fizer
Austr
alia P
ty Lt
d)M
111A
09/2
012
Suva
City
Phar
mac
y, Su
va
Mini
diab $
4.45
(Pfiz
er Au
strali
a Pty
Ltd)
M11
1A09
/201
2Th
akor
lal’s P
harm
acy,
Nadi
Mini
diab$
4.05
(Pfiz
er Au
strali
a Pte
Ltd)
M11
1A09
/201
2DH
A Mini
diab G
lipizi
de 30
/5m
g
Price Comparisons: Same medicine, batch number, manufacturer/source countryP
rice
Com
paris
ons:
Sam
e m
edic
ine,
bat
ch n
umbe
r, m
anuf
actu
rer/
sour
ce c
ount
ry (c
ontin
ued)
.
46
Price Comparisons: Same medicine, batch number, manufacturer/source countryP
rice
Com
paris
ons:
Sam
e m
edic
ine,
bat
ch n
umbe
r, m
anuf
actu
rer/
sour
ce c
ount
ry (c
ontin
ued)
.He
alth C
are C
hem
ist, T
avua
DHA $
3.00
(Dru
g Hou
ses o
f Aus
tralia
(Asia
) Pte
Ltd
, Sing
apor
e)80
456
05/2
012
Price
diffe
renc
e of $
1.45 f
or D
HA M
inidia
b glip
izide
sold
by th
ese t
wo ph
arm
acies
. Midw
ay Ba
sold
it at
48%
high
er th
an
Healt
h Car
e Che
mist
Tavu
a.M
idway
Phar
mac
y, Ba
DHA $
4.45
Drug
Hou
ses o
f Aus
tralia
(Asia
) Pty
Lim
ited,
Singa
pore
8045
605
/201
2
MET
FORM
INM
etof
en M
etfo
rmin
30/5
00m
gAm
y Stre
et Ph
arm
acy
Met
ofen
$1.38
Wind
las Bi
otec
h Ltd
,India
W05
002E
08/2
011
Price
diffe
renc
e of $
0.57 o
r 41%
.
Rewa
Phar
mac
y, Na
usor
iM
etof
en$1
.95W
indlas
Biot
ech L
td, In
diaW
0500
2E08
/201
1
Flam
ingo M
etfo
rmin
sam
e bat
ch#,
sour
ce co
untry
30/5
00m
gM
adiso
n Pha
rmac
y, Su
vaFla
ming
o $1.5
0Fla
ming
o Pha
rmac
eutic
als Lt
d, In
dia22
705
/201
1
Midw
ay Ph
arm
acy s
old th
e mos
t exp
ensiv
e at $
2.70,
while
Hea
lth Fi
rst Ph
arm
acy N
adi a
nd N
adi C
hem
ist w
ere t
he
chea
pest
at $1
.48. P
rice d
iffer
ence
betw
een c
heap
est a
nd m
ost e
xpen
sive p
rice –
82%
. The
mos
t com
mon
price
wa
s $1.9
5 cha
rged
by fiv
e pha
rmac
ies –
Nau
sori P
harm
acy,
Suva
City
Phar
m., C
hadu
lal an
d Hyp
erch
em Ba
.
Naus
ori P
harm
acy L
td, N
auso
riFla
ming
o $1.9
5Fla
ming
o Pha
rmac
eutic
als Lt
d, In
dia22
705
/201
1Ph
arm
acy P
lus, S
uva
Flam
ingo $
1.65
Flam
ingo P
harm
aceu
ticals
Ltd,
India
227
05/2
011
Sam
abula
Dru
g Sto
re, Sa
mab
ulaFla
ming
o $1.6
5Fla
ming
o Pha
rmac
eutic
als Lt
d, In
dia22
705
/201
1Su
va Ci
ty Ph
arm
acy,
Suva
Fla
ming
o $1.9
5Fla
ming
o Pha
rmac
eutic
als Lt
d, In
dia22
705
/201
1Ca
re Ch
emist
, Siga
toka
Flam
ingo $
1.53
Flam
ingo P
harm
aceu
ticals
Ltd,
India
227
05/2
011
Chan
dulal
’s Pha
rmac
y, La
utok
aFla
ming
o $1.9
5Fla
ming
o Pha
rmac
eutic
als Lt
d, In
dia22
705
/201
1He
alth F
irst P
harm
acy,
Nadi
Flam
ingo $
1.48
Flam
ingo P
harm
aceu
ticals
Ltd,
India
227
05/2
011
Hype
rchem
Phar
mac
y, Ba
Flam
ingo $
1.95
Flam
ingo P
harm
aceu
ticals
Ltd,
India
227
05/2
011
Midw
ay Ph
arm
acy,
BaFla
ming
o $2.7
0Fla
ming
o Pha
rmac
eutic
als Lt
d, In
dia22
705
/201
1Na
di Ch
emist
, Nad
iFla
ming
o $1.4
8Fla
ming
o Pha
rmac
eutic
als Lt
d, In
dia22
705
/201
1Pa
tel P
harm
acy L
td, S
igato
kaFla
ming
o $1.8
0Fla
ming
o Pha
rmac
eutic
als Lt
d, In
dia22
705
/201
1Fla
ming
o Met
form
in, sa
me b
atch
#, so
urce
coun
try 15
/300
mg
My C
hem
ist, L
abas
aFla
ming
o $1.9
5Fla
ming
o Pha
rmac
eutic
als Lt
d, In
dia22
705
/201
1Th
e thr
ee N
orth
ern p
harm
acies
disp
ense
d 15/
300m
g of t
he sa
me m
etfo
rmin.
My C
hem
ist w
as th
e high
est p
riced
$1
.95 w
hile t
he ot
her t
wo ch
arge
d for
$1.35
, a $0
.60 di
ffere
nce (
44%
)Na
sea C
hem
ist, L
abas
aFla
ming
o $1.3
5Fla
ming
o Pha
rmac
eutic
als Lt
d, In
dia22
705
/201
1No
rther
n Dru
g Sto
re, La
basa
Flam
ingo$
1.35
Flam
ingo P
harm
aceu
ticals
Ltd,
India
227
05/2
011
Pure
Phar
ma M
etfo
rmin
30/5
00m
g, sa
me b
atch
A.J.
Swan
n Co L
td, S
uva
Pure
Phar
ma $
2.00
Pure
Phar
ma L
td, In
dia80
002
06/2
011
AJ Sw
ann S
uva s
old th
e mos
t exp
ensiv
e at $
2.00 w
hile t
he ch
eape
st wa
s fou
nd at
Meg
a Car
e Pha
rmac
y Mak
oi,
Holis
tic Ph
arm
acy,
Suva
and W
yse P
harm
acy V
alelev
u ($1
.05).
Price
diffe
renc
e bet
ween
chea
pest
and m
ost
expe
nsive
– 94
%.
Cent
ral P
harm
acy,
Suva
Pure
Phar
ma $
1.95
Pure
Phar
ma L
td, In
dia80
002
06/2
011
City C
entre
Phar
mac
y, Su
vaPu
re Ph
arm
a $1.9
5Pu
re Ph
arm
a Ltd
, India
8000
206
/201
1Fla
gsta
ff Ph
arm
acy,
Suva
Pure
Phar
ma $
1.95
Pure
Phar
ma L
td, In
dia80
002
06/2
011
Holis
tic Ph
arm
acy,
Suva
Pure
Phar
ma $
1.05
Pure
Phar
ma L
td, In
dia80
002
06/2
011
Lauc
ala Ba
y Pha
rmac
y, Su
vaPu
re Ph
arm
a $1.6
5Pu
re Ph
arm
a Ltd
, India
8000
206
/201
1Lif
e Pha
rmac
y, Na
usor
i Pu
re Ph
arm
a $1.5
0Pu
re Ph
arm
a Ltd
, India
8000
206
/201
1M
ega C
are P
harm
acy,
Mak
oi, N
asinu
Pure
Phar
ma $
1.05
Pure
Phar
ma L
td, In
dia
8000
206
/201
1M
etro
Phar
mac
y, Su
va
Pure
Phar
ma $
1.95
Pure
Phar
ma L
td,In
dia
8000
206
/201
1Su
per D
rug P
harm
acy,
Nabu
aPu
re Ph
arm
a $1.9
5Pu
re Ph
arm
a Ltd
,India
80
002
06/2
011
Wys
e Pha
rmac
y, Na
kasi
Pure
Phar
ma $
1.85
Pure
Phar
ma L
td, In
dia80
002
06/2
011
Wys
e Pha
rmac
y, Va
lelev
uPu
re Ph
arm
a $1.0
5Pu
re Ph
arm
a Ltd
, India
80
002
06/2
011
Gluc
opha
ge M
etfo
rmin,
sam
e bat
ch#,
sour
ce co
untry
30/
500m
gHy
perch
em Ph
arm
acy,
Laut
oka
Gluc
opha
ge $6
.73Al
pha P
harm
, Aus
tralia
1000
4607
/201
3Sa
me m
anuf
actu
rer, b
atch
# &
expir
y dat
e. D
iffer
ence
of $0
.03.
Life P
harm
acy L
td, N
adi
Gluc
opha
ge $6
.70Al
pha P
harm
, Aus
tralia
1000
4607
/201
3
SIMVA
STAT
INAr
row
Simva
statin
, sam
e bat
ch# 3
0/20
mg
47Lif
e Pha
rmac
y, Na
usor
i Ar
row
$6.00
NOT S
TATE
DSA
WH0
023
10/2
011
High
est p
rice c
harg
ed by
Cent
ral P
harm
acy,
Suva
at $
11.55
, che
apes
t at N
adi C
hem
ist $3
.08. P
rice d
iffer
ence
–
275%
Sam
abula
Dru
g Sto
re,Sa
mab
ulaAr
row
$4.05
NOT S
TATE
DSA
WH0
023
10/2
011
Chov
han P
harm
acy L
td, L
auto
kaAr
row
$7.50
NOT S
TATE
DSA
WH0
023
10/2
011
Cent
ral P
harm
acy,
Suva
Arro
w $1
1.55
NOT S
TATE
DSA
WH0
023
10/2
011
Nadi
Chem
ist, N
adi
Arro
w $3
.08NO
T STA
TED
SAW
H002
310
/201
1Su
gar C
ity Ph
arm
acy L
td, L
auto
kaAr
row
$5.85
NOT S
TATE
DSA
WH0
023
10/2
011
Simca
rd Si
mva
statin
, sam
e #, s
ource
coun
try, 3
0/20
mg
City C
entre
Phar
mac
y, Su
vaSim
card
$11.5
5Cip
la Ltd
, India
G978
3805
/201
0
Eleve
n (11
) pha
rmac
ies so
ld Sim
card
sim
vasta
tin (#
G978
38),
with
6 of
them
sellin
g it a
t $11
.55. T
he hi
ghes
t pr
ice w
as at
Hea
lth Fi
rst Ph
arm
acy N
adi fo
r $11
.59 w
hile F
lagsta
ff, M
ega C
are M
akoi
and T
hako
rlal’s
Nadi
sold
the
chea
pest
($9.7
5). P
rice d
iffer
ence
betw
een l
owes
/high
est –
19%
.
Flags
taff
Phar
mac
y, Su
vaSim
card
$9.75
Cipla
Ltd, In
diaG9
7838
05/2
010
Meg
a Car
e Pha
rmac
y, M
akoi,
Nas
inuSim
card
$9.75
Cipla
Ltd, In
diaG9
7838
05/2
012
Met
ro Ph
arm
acy,
Suva
Sim
card
$11.5
5Cip
la Ltd
, India
G978
3805
/201
2Na
usor
i Pha
rmac
y Ltd
, Nau
sori
Simca
rd $1
1.55
Cipla
Ltd, In
diaG9
7838
05/2
012
Supe
rdru
g Pha
rmac
y, Na
bua
Simca
rd $1
1.55
(Cipl
a Ltd
, India
)G9
7838
05/2
012
Supe
rdru
g Pha
rmac
y, Su
vaSim
card
$11.5
5Cip
la Ltd
, India
G978
3805
/201
2W
yse P
harm
acy,
Naka
siSim
card
$11.5
5Cip
la Ltd
, India
G978
3805
/201
2He
alth F
irst P
harm
acy,
Nadi
Simca
rd $1
1.59
Cipla
Ltd, In
diaG9
7838
05/2
012
Hype
rchem
Phar
mac
y, La
utok
aSim
card
$9.83
Cipla
Ltd, In
diaG9
7838
05/2
012
Thak
orlal
’s Pha
rmac
y, Na
diSim
card
$9.75
Cipla
Ltd, In
diaG9
7838
05/2
012
Wins
tatin
Sim
vasta
tin, s
ame #
, sou
rce co
untry
30/2
0mg
Good
Hea
lth Ca
re Ph
arm
acy,
Suva
Wins
tatin
$3.15
Wind
las Bi
otec
h Ltd
, India
W28
001E
09/2
011
Wins
tatin
was
sold
by Am
y Stre
et Ph
arm
acy;
Good
Hea
lth Ca
re, Su
va; G
uard
ian An
gel, L
/Bea
ch fo
r $3.1
5 whil
e W
este
rn M
edica
re Lt
d cha
rged
$10.0
0. Th
is is
a pric
e diff
eren
ce of
217%
, whic
h is t
hree
tim
es m
ore t
han w
hat a
co
nsum
er w
ould
pay f
or in
Suva
.
Guar
dian A
ngel
Phar
mac
y, L/
Beac
h Nas
inuW
insta
tin $3
.15W
indlas
Biot
ech L
td, In
diaW
2800
1E09
/201
1W
este
rn M
edica
re Ph
arm
acy,
BaW
insta
ntin
$10.0
0W
indlas
Biot
ech L
td, In
diaW
2800
1E09
/201
1M
S Pha
rmac
y, Na
diW
insta
tin $3
.45W
indlas
Biot
ech L
td, In
diaW
2800
1E09
/201
1Ar
row
Simva
statin
, sam
e #, 3
0/20
mg
Budg
et Ph
arm
acy,
Nadi
Arro
w $2
.95NO
T STA
TED
SAW
H001
907
/201
1
High
est p
rice r
ecor
ded i
n the
thre
e Lab
asa p
harm
acies
at $9
.45. B
udge
t Pha
rmac
y Nad
i had
the c
heap
est p
rice o
f $2
.95. T
he th
ree n
orth
ern p
harm
acies
have
char
ged 2
20%
mor
e tha
n the
chea
pest
Arro
w Sim
vasta
tin pu
rchas
ed.
Care
Chem
ist, S
igato
kaAr
row
$3.28
NOT S
TATE
DSA
WH0
019
07/2
011
Life P
harm
acy L
td, N
adi
Arro
w $4
.05NO
T STA
TED
SAW
H001
907
/201
1M
y Che
mist
, Lab
asa
Arro
w $9
.45NO
T STA
TED
SAW
H001
907
/201
1Na
sea C
hem
ist, L
abas
aAr
row
$9.45
NOT S
TATE
DSA
WH0
019
07/2
011
North
ern D
rug S
tore,
Laba
saAr
row
$9.45
NOT S
TATE
DSA
WH0
019
07/1
1Ar
row
Simva
statin
, sam
e #, 3
0/20
mg
Hype
rchem
Phar
mac
y, Ba
Arro
w $5
.10NO
T STA
TED
SAW
H002
110
/201
1Pa
tel P
harm
acy S
igato
ka ch
arge
d 194
% m
ore t
han H
yper
chem
Ba Ar
row
simva
statin
(SAW
H002
1)
Midw
ay Ph
arm
acy,
BaAr
row
$7.50
NOT S
TATE
DSA
WH0
021
10/2
011
Pate
l Pha
rmac
y Ltd
, Siga
toka
Arro
w $1
5.00
NOT S
TATE
DSA
WH0
021
10/2
011
Wins
tatin
Sim
vasta
tin, s
ame #
, 30/
20m
g
Cres
cent
, Sim
vasti
tin sa
me #
, sou
rce co
untry
28/2
0mg
Healt
h Car
e Che
mist
, Tav
uaCr
esce
nt $1
8.00
Cres
cent
Phar
ma L
td08
016
02/2
012
Cres
cent
was
sold
by Th
akor
lal Ph
arm
acy,
Laut
oka;
$5.85
whil
e Hea
lth Ca
re Ch
emist
, Tav
ua ch
arge
d $18
.00. T
his is
a p
rice d
iffer
ence
of 20
7%.
Thak
or La
l Pha
rmac
y, La
utok
aCr
esce
nt $5
.85Cr
esce
nt Ph
arm
a Ltd
0801
602
/201
2Isl
and P
harm
acy,
Ba (3
0/20
mg)
Cres
cent
$9.00
Cres
cent
Phar
ma L
td08
016
02/2
012
Price Comparisons: Same medicine, batch number, manufacturer/source countryP
rice
Com
paris
ons:
Sam
e m
edic
ine,
bat
ch n
umbe
r, m
anuf
actu
rer/
sour
ce c
ount
ry (c
ontin
ued)
.
48
Notes
Prices and Practices Pharmaceutical Survey 2010
Supported byReport by
CONSUMER COUNCIL OF FIJI
Funded by
EUROPEAN UNION
Recommended