The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 275 No 7375 p607
12 November 2005

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· Adverse reactions
· Drug interactions (2)
· Packaging
· GHP (2)
· Pricing
· Clinical governance
· The profession
· Pharmacy workforce
· Communication
· Registration

Letters to the Editor

Pricing

Over the top charges for specials

From Mr D. W. Turner, MRPharmS

While working as a locum today I was scrutinising an invoice from a well-known specials company. The invoice was for 1x10ml hypromellose eye drops, 0.5 per cent (preservative free). The charge was £164.84, and with VAT and postage the total was £205.44.

The local Prescription Pricing Authority assured me that this would be paid without question. I know of no other business where a company can charge what it likes for products and not be challenged.

Could the £205 for a bottle of artificial tears not be put to some better use such as the new breast cancer treatments we have been reading about recently?

When is there going to be some form of checking on these specials prices? It could save the NHS a lot of money.

David Turner
Wigan, Lancashire

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