OTC drugs 40% more expensive in Bucharest than in other cities

Nurofen, the best-selling OTC drug domestically, which in Bucharest costs over 16 RON, is 30-40% cheaper in other cities, shows a ZF survey based on prices available in pharmacies.

ZF collected information on the prices of several OTC drugs in five cities plus Bucharest, but also went to several pharmacies in the same city (independent pharmacies and pharmacies part of a chain). The targeted cities were Cluj (308,700 inhabitants), Constanța (302,000 inhabitants), Suceava (120,000 inhabitants), Piatra Neamț (107,100 inhabitants), Câmpina (37,400 inhabitants-Prahova county) and Lupeni (29,400 inhabitants – Hunedoara county).
The conclusion of ZF’s survey was that the cheapest drugs were available in independent pharmacies of Lupeni, the smallest city under analysis, and Constanța. The most expensive ones are to be found in networks, with a nationwide price policy.
OTC drug prices are set freely, depending on each retail pharmacy’s policy. Thus, wholesalers’ and pharmacies’ markups are added to the producer price, making the price patients pay to buy from pharmacies two-three times higher, according to 2010 ZF survey.