Monday, 30th November 2009

Compare and contrast prices of medicine products (1)

Simon Said, Swieqi

I have to agree with Minister Tonio Fenech that something has to be done about the cost of medicines in Malta.

I read about two persons who wrote to The Times stating that they bought medicines in other European countries cheaper than in Malta. I can assure Mr Fenech that there are many people who know this but don't bother writing in. Today within the eurozone it is so easy to compare prices, so why allow a few importers to take us all for a ride?

I suggest two options. Either ask relatives or friends who travel regularly to Brussels, Rome or London to buy your medicines, or we should all write to The Times stating the price of medicines bought in other countries. This will put pressure on the dishonest importers.

The minister could also ask to see the costing of certain medicines and judge whether the price is justified.

The outcome must be that we do not pay more for any medicine than in any other European country.

Next article • Compare and contrast prices of medicine products (2)

Article © Allied Newspapers Ltd., printed on Tuesday, February 9, 2010. This article is for personal use only, and should not be distributed.

Comments

Emanuel Bartolo (on 30/11/09)

FOSAVANCE tablets which come in a box of four and have to be taken one per week are bought in Malta for 45 Euros. I have bought the same tablets from Firenze, Italy for 25 Euros per box of same quantity, same manufacturer, and same 70mg/2800UI.

John Caruana (on 30/11/09)

@ All those who complain about prices of products and medicines locally Why don't you import these products yourselves and sell them for less? You should still make a healthy profit (if your claims of excess profiteering are true) and you would be doing your Maltese compatriots a service.

Galea. L (on 30/11/09)

For those who are being ripped off in spectacles have a look at http://zennioptical.com/cart/home.php

A. Farrugia (on 30/11/09)

Not just books & medicine. Several items that can be bought from the internet (Games for consoles/PC, electronics, sometimes even clothes) cost a lot more locally than they do abroad. Just yesterday I checked the price for a particular mobile phone sold by a leading mobile-phone shop in Malta. The price in Malta was 455 Euro. The price abroad? Approx. 300 Euro incl. shipping. Enough said I guess? What customers should know is links to sites like www.play.com, ebay.com and amazon.com or amazon.co.uk. It's there were people can get the good deals, not here. I'm sick of being ripped off by local retailers so now I do as much of my shopping online! :) There are even sites for medicines online, but I don't know any off the hat.

PM Camilleri (on 30/11/09)

....and books too. A paperback costs €13 whilst from the UK costs around €8, including p&p. The same applies to contact lenses which are much, much cheaper in the UK. In fact I buy mine from the UK.

M Borg (on 30/11/09)

The consumers association must speak out! This does not only happen in medicines! If you go to one of the reputable book shops, you can find lots of magazines being charged at a higher price than the actual price stamped on the magazine itself! Why does this happen?