Consumer Council recently conducted a price check on 6 brands of over-the-counter drugs. Survey result showed that price differences of the same product sold in different retail outlets ranged from 19 percent to 81 percent.

Consumer Council collected prices of 6 over-the-counter drugs from 28 drugstores on 20th September; surveyed drugs included remedies for cold and flu, cough syrup, and stomachache medicine.

The specific price survey on over-the-counter drugs revealed that selling prices of the same product in certain drugstores were especially higher than prices in other drugstores. ‘Advance Cough Suspension/120ml’, which was sold at $31.9 to $58.0, revealed a price difference of 81.8 percent. ‘WEISEN-U/30 tablets’, which was sold at $43.5 to $62.0, had a price difference of 42.5 percent.

Prices of the surveyed drugs were generally stable, only ‘Coltalin - Cold & Flu / Allergy Formula/12 tablets’ recorded a price increase of about 10 percent in 10 drugstores.

Consumer Council indicates that its specific price survey aims at helping consumer make price comparison for the same product, consumer are therefore advised to check with the ‘Specific product price information platform’ prior to making purchase.

The specific price survey on over-the-counter drugs is now available on the Council’s website (www.consumer.gov.mo).