Identical tablets sold for 3 TIMES the price at Boots compared to 95p at budget store Wilko

December 23, 2016

An investigation tracked identical tablets being sold at 4 high street retailers
They found Boots were selling their own-branded versions of 2 drugs at £3.29
However, the exact same medications were able to buy for just 95p at Wilko

Stephen Matthews For Mailonline

Published:
06:28 EST, 23 December 2016

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Updated:
07:38 EST, 23 December 2016

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High street retailers are selling over-the-counter cold and flu medicines at triple the price of identical tablets.

Despite the only difference being the packaging, Boots were found to be selling their own-branded versions of two drugs for £3.29 – compared to Wilko at 95p.

But the problem recurred among other well-known pharmacists, with Superdrug and Lloyds also being found guilty, an investigation revealed.

And in some cases it’s actually cheaper to buy branded equivalent products such as Benylin and Sudafed.

Despite the only difference being the packaging, Boots were found to be selling their own-branded versions of two drugs for £3.29 – compared to Wilko at 95p

Products were tracked using their ‘PL number’ – a unique licence code given exclusively to all drugs manufactured.

Prices of four identical cold and flu remedies sold at Boots, Lloyds, Superdrug and Wilko were assessed.

While the MoneySavingExpert.com research also looked at a range of supermarkets for the cheapest branded equivalents.

They found discount retailer Wilko were selling their own brand Max Strength Sinus Capsules for 95p.

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But Boots had priced the exact same drug at £3.29 – more than three times the amount of their high street competitor.

In comparison, the branded equivalent – Sudafed Congestion Headache Relief – is sold at £2.99.

The same prices existed for the Max Strength Cold Flu Capsules – with Superdrug also selling their version for £3.29.

Superdrug were found to be retailing their drug at £2.55 – slightly more expensive than the £2.49 it costs to buy Benylin Cold Flu Max Strength Capsules.

But because there is no difference between either of the own-brand products, experts say it makes more sense to buy the cheaper versions.

Professor Jayne Lawrence, chief scientist at the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, said: ‘If the active ingredients, the dose and the formulation are the same, then medicines will have the same effect, whether they are a well-known brand or an unknown generic.’

While she previously said: ‘All medicines are made to high standards, so you can be reassured your medicine is safe.’

Megan French, who conducted the research, said: ‘Families need to be aware they could be paying triple the price for identical medication, as over the year this could really add up.

‘It’s easy to think fancy packaging and advertising must mean the medicine will be better, but look a bit further and check what’s actually inside.

‘And as our research shows, simply swapping from branded to “own-brand” medicine from the biggest pharmacies doesn’t guarantee savings – in some cases these can actually be more expensive than brands.’

A spokesperson for Boots said it offers ‘competitive pricing on both branded and own label products’.

While a Lloyds spokesperson added: ‘We are are unable to control the pricing of branded products in other retailers but endeavour to maintain our competitiveness versus the market.’

And Superdrug said it works to ensure that it offers its customers the best possible value for its products and choice for our customers.