WARNING - Scam in your local pharmacy

jc808

rustyboy21 wrote: »

It's been going on for so long that if anyone didn't really know about it, then they must have something seriously wrong with their head !

A pharmacy, is a specialist store, which can prescribe drugs for specific ailments, try doing that from a tesco shelf. They can supply stronger meds and a higher quantity too. This is due to them having a pharmacist on duty, who is legally able to prescribe drugs and amounts. Guess what this costs the pharmacy money ! Therefore their margins are higher.

You try buying more than 2 packs from tescos at a time and see where it gets you. You can buty paracetamol cheaper from home bargains, or B&M Bargains, think they are 16p.
I don't think it is right that a supermarket can have these products on display, without a form of advice/restriction. Yes you can buy 2 at a time, but the determined person with suicidal tendencies could get the lethal dose quite easily, without anyone stopping them. At least a pharmacist, or his counter staff, would see maybe the person was in distress and possibly persuade them not to do anything rash, or get them help. Can you see a checkout operator doing that?

It is not a SCAM, it is rather you trying to make an unsubstantiated moan to get it off your chest.

Plus the ASDA drugs may be a loss leader

dzug1

It's not a scam.

It would only be a scam if what you were sold were not actually the product printed on the packaging.

Perhaps we need new words for scam and rip off now that they have been downgraded by constant use by those unaware of what they actually mean.

Fiddlestick

rustyboy21 wrote: »

Co Codamol are always behind the counter, therefore not on general sale. They have a P on the box. I am on 30/500mg ones and they are POM

I am aware that 30/500 is POM, but I specifically mentioned 8/500 as they are not

Fiddlestick

rustyboy21 wrote: »

The pharmacist can still refuse to sell you them. It is on his judgement, if they are warranted. If he says no, you cannot get them. That is why they are behind the counter and usually the assistant has to ask permission off the pharmacist.

Yup that's the whole point of P.

However being at the pharmacist's discretion is not the same thing as being POM though, as a P can be dispensed without a prescription whereas a POM cannot.

rustyboy21

Fiddlestick wrote: »

I am aware that 30/500 is POM, but I specifically mentioned 8/500 as they are not

8/500 is a P product that is sold behind the counter, due to having Codiene in it, which is an opiate.

Therefore you have to ask for them, and it is up to the assistant if you can have them. They are not on general sale. The assistant may have training and is eligble to dispense the product without asking the pharmacist, but if they are not trained they may/should ask the pharmacist for his ok.

I also buy periodically Phenergan 25mg tabs. They are classed as POM, however the pharmacist is able to sell them as the drugs book gives a price for them and discretionary authorisation to sell them wihout prescription.:)

rustyboy21

dzug1 wrote: »

It's not a scam.

It would only be a scam if what you were sold were not actually the product printed on the packaging.

Perhaps we need new words for scam and rip off now that they have been downgraded by constant use by those unaware of what they actually mean.

It wouldn't have been as bad if the OP had said that it was profiteering, which it is.

As we have all said though, it is not a scam.

biscit

rustyboy21 wrote: »

It wouldn't have been as bad if the OP had said that it was profiteering, which it is.

We don't know the pharmacists overheads. You can bet they can't buy paracetamol as cheap as the supermarkets as they won't be making such big purchases or have the same bargaining power.

George_Michael

Another point to bear in mind is that both your local pharmacy and the pharmacies in Tesco/Asda/Sainsbury etc will both be required to employ a licensed pharmacist, someones whose wages will need to be paid.

Compared to a big supermarket, the local pharmacy may well only sell a modest number of items requiring the approval of the pharmacist, so the items in question may be priced higher to cover the wages.

Blackpool_Saver

It's time people in this country were educated on the different pain relieving medications there are and the difference between a generic drug and a brand named drug, most people don't even know that Ibuprofen is Nurofen, it's scary.

rustyboy21

biscit wrote: »

We don't know the pharmacists overheads. You can bet they can't buy paracetamol as cheap as the supermarkets as they won't be making such big purchases or have the same bargaining power.

I totally agree with you

However that view doesn't seem to be sinking in with certain posters on here, so I have tried to give a less abusive and rude name for what they have been saying.

See my earlier posts