by Salvatore Medici – Ticinoonline
LUGANO – A medicine such as zovirax used against herpes (35 tablets of 800 milligrams) costs 108.05 francs in Switzerland, 52.01 euros in Italy. Voltaren (anti-inflammatory with 5 vials of 75mg) costs 2.94 euros in Italy, 7.75 francs in Switzerland. Augmentin (antibiotic, 12 tablets of 1G) is sold in Italy for 10.20 euros, in Switzerland for 43.10 francs. And again, beloc zok (beta blocker for the heart), torem (pressure diuretic), norvasc (pressure), pantozol (antacid), motiliu (nausea), ciprofloxacin (antibiotic). There would be many examples, from the most "popular" drugs to the most expensive ones for specific diseases. Furthermore, to these prices, as for each prescribed drug, must be added the portion of 4.30 francs which corresponds to the remuneration on the pharmacist's services, and that of 3.20 francs for the pharmacist's service on the prescription. These are medicines, whose maximum prices are fixed in the Federal List of Specialties (see Box below) on the basis of the factory price for delivery, distribution and value added tax (here is the link to consult the list in German or French).
The reasons of the pharmacists – But the category of pharmacists does not agree with this type of comparison. “It would take two hours to explain the reasons. First of all, we specify that the Federal Office of Health has been making price reductions for several years. Medicines in Switzerland cost more, as do cars, clothes and consumer goods. Wages, production costs, logistics and living standards are higher than in Italy or in other countries - explains Mario Tanzi, President of the Pharmacists Order in Ticino. Calculate that in Switzerland a good part of the 20,000 medicines are imported and the entire production and distribution chain is more expensive than other countries. A pharmacist here takes from 6,400 to 8,000 francs, in Italy he takes 1,200 euros. Then yes
