Medicines: how prices work and where you can save
Why the same drug costs different amounts, what a generic is, and how to check that you are buying what you think you are.
Medical goods we already compare
We do not collect medicine prices yet, but medical goods — blood-pressure monitors, thermometers, glucose meters, inhalers, orthopaedic products — are already in the catalogue with prices from several shops. That is the neighbouring category, and comparison there works in full.
Medical goods →Generics: the main way to pay less
Every medicine has an international non-proprietary name — the name of the active substance — and a trade name under which a specific manufacturer sells it. The original is made by the company that developed the substance; once the patent expires, other manufacturers may produce the same substance, and those products are called generics.
A generic contains the same active substance at the same dose in the same form, but usually costs noticeably less: its price carries no development or marketing spend. The gap between an original and a generic of the same molecule can be several-fold — the single largest saving lever available to a buyer at the counter.
In practice: check the active substance on the prescription or the box, and ask the pharmacy which products contain it. Choosing between them is a question for your doctor or pharmacist — excipients differ between manufacturers and that occasionally matters. We explain how the price works; we do not prescribe.
Authenticity and storage
Buy from licensed pharmacies and keep the receipt. Legitimate packaging carries a batch number, an expiry date and manufacturer details, with the leaflet inside. Blurred printing, missing markings, opened packaging or a price far below the market are all reasons to walk away.
Ordering medicines online needs particular care: the seller must be a licensed pharmacy, not a marketplace listing or a private seller. Prescription medicines are by definition not sold without a prescription, and an offer to work around that is on its own reason enough to leave.
Storage affects medicines more than people assume. Most need room temperature, darkness and low humidity — so not the bathroom and not a windowsill; some require refrigeration, which the leaflet states. Expired medicines are not "weaker", they are unpredictable, and should not be taken.
Comparing medicine prices
We do not collect pharmacy prices yet, so there is no medicine comparison table on this page — and we will not show an empty one. When a data source exists, the comparison slots in here. For now: the neighbouring category above, where comparison already works.
Frequently asked questions
Is a generic worse than the original?
A generic contains the same active substance at the same dose and in the same form, and must demonstrate equivalence to the original to reach the market. The price difference reflects the absence of development and marketing costs, not quality. That said, excipients can differ between manufacturers, so a switch is worth discussing with a doctor or pharmacist, particularly in chronic treatment.
Why does the same medicine cost different amounts at different pharmacies?
The price combines the wholesale cost from the distributor, the pharmacy’s markup, logistics and the terms of the particular chain. Different pharmacies buy on different terms and work on different margins, so a spread across a city is normal — and it is exactly why comparing beats buying at the first pharmacy you pass.
Is it safe to buy medicines online?
The key question is who the seller is. It must be a licensed pharmacy, not a private seller or an anonymous listing. Prescription medicines should not be sold without a prescription, and a seller’s willingness to bypass that is reason enough not to buy anything from them. Keep the order confirmation and inspect the packaging on delivery.
How should medicines be stored at home?
Most need room temperature, darkness and low humidity, which rules out the bathroom and the windowsill. Some require refrigeration — the leaflet says so. Keep medicines in their original packaging with the leaflet: without it you lose the batch number, expiry date and storage conditions. Do not take anything past its expiry date.
Do you compare medicine prices?
Not yet — we do not collect pharmacy prices, and we are not going to invent them. Medical goods (monitors, glucose meters, thermometers and similar) are in the catalogue, and price comparison across shops works there. As soon as a data source for medicines exists, comparison will appear here too.
This material is for general information and is not medical advice, a prescription or a recommendation of any specific product. Choice of treatment, dosage and substitution are questions for a doctor or pharmacist.