The cost of medicines

Sir, – I have recently returned from a holiday in Italy. Before leaving Dublin I got a prescription from my doctor for some of my usual medication which I wished to get while in Italy. During my stay I called to a local pharmacy and purchased this medication. The manufacturer was the same, the strength and dosage were the same and the packaging was the same. The only difference was the price.

In Italy I paid €14.95 for it and in Dublin I pay €31.71. I would be glad if someone could tell me in simple terms the reason for this discrepancy. – Yours, etc,

M MARKEY,

Whitebeam Road,

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Clonskeagh,

Dublin 14