AUSTRALIANS are being forced to pay significantly more for packs of Nurofen Plus and Mersyndol since the codeine painkillers were made prescription-only last month.
In some cases, the price of a box of pills has more than doubled.
Pain sufferers are reporting that the cost of a 30 pack of Nurofen Plus has increased to almost $20, a 100 per cent increase since February 1, from when they could only be bought with a doctor's prescription.
The complaints have promoted Health Minister Greg Hunt to refer the “alleged pricing practice” to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission for investigation, and to demand an explanation from pharmaceutical manufacturers and pharmacists.
“There is no reason for the costs of these products to increase,” a spokesman for the minister said.
An ACCC spokeswoman said the commission was considering the matter but was unsure whether any law had been broken.
“It is important to note that generally speaking businesses are free to set prices as they see fit, so long as they do so independently of their competitors and any claims are substantiated and do not mislead consumers,” the spokeswoman said.
Pharmacists have laid most of the blame for the price hike on manufacturers, but at least one pharmaceutical company is pushing back, saying it made no changes to pricing since the rescheduling, brought in to restrict access to addictive codeine pills.
Sanofi, which produces Mersyndol and Prodeine, says it has not increased the price of any of its medications containing codeine since the rescheduling.
Yet consumers, including Melbourne’s Judith Gade, have noticed a significant change at the checkout, with 20-packs of Mersyndol increasing in price 100 per cent to $10.
Ms Gade, a health educator from Frankston, said this cost was coupled with the added inconvenience of having to go to a doctor every month for a prescription.
She said she went through about 10 tablets every week to treat her fibromyalgia and arthritis.
“It adds extra stress in your life you don’t need,” she said.
Sanofi said its recommended price for 20 Mersyndol caplets remained the same before and after February 1 – at $10.95.
Chemist Warehouse, where Ms Gade shops, is still selling its packets below the recommended retail price, at $9.99. But online records show that back in January the price was $5.49.
The maker of Nurofen Plus, Reckitt Benckiser, has admitted to a price increase for its product.
“The regulation change placed Nurofen Plus into a very different commercial environment, and we have had to adjust our pricing model accordingly,” a Nurofen spokeswoman said.
"The pharmacy hasn’t been the culprit in the price increase, largely the prices have been set by the manufacturers," said Shane Jackson.
Pharmaceutical Society of Australia Shane Jackson president said that as a result, the price of a pack of Nurofen Plus had increased from about $11 or $13 to closer to $18.
“The pharmacy hasn’t been the culprit in the price increase, largely the prices have been set by the manufacturers,” Dr Jackson said.
The Pharmacy Guild of Australia has also blamed the significant price increases on manufacturer pricing, passed on to the suppliers, then the pharmacies.
“Pharmacies in some cases have had no choice but to increase to price to the consumer – or experience the financial cost,” Victorian guild president Anthony Tassone said.
Asked about the unexplained increase in the price of Mersyndol, he said prescription-only medicines can cost pharmacies more to dispense.
“There are additional requirements, responsibilities and expectations on pharmacists,” Mr Tassone said.
“This requires time and can contribute to an increased price for the patient.”
Mr Tassone urged customers worried about prices to speak to their pharmacist, as there may be a cheaper brand available.
Since February 1, sales of low-dose codeine have plunged almost 90 per cent (compared to the year before), according to data from the Advantage Pharmacy chain.
