Boots overcharging the NHS for pain-relief mouthwash
First published by Author on June 29, 2018 in the following categories: Investigations Price Hikes Pricing and tagged with cma | overpriced medication | pricing
Boots overcharging the NHS for pain relief mouthwash is a serious allegation that must be closely investigated.
The allegations are that the company behind high-street chain Boots, Walgreens Boots Alliance, are reportedly overcharging the NHS by almost 3,500% for pain-relieving mouthwash used by cancer patients.
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) are considering the issue and health Minister, Steve Brine, is calling for an urgent investigation.
Are Boots overcharging the NHS?
According to the allegations, Walgreens Boots Alliance are charging £3,220.00 for pain-relieving mouthwash used by cancer patients that can cost just £93.00; a seemingly unfathomable uplift, if true.
This would not be the first time of a pharmaceutical or healthcare brand overcharging the NHS for products. In fact, it’s somewhat of a long-standing issue of the NHS appearing to be overcharged for drugs and medical products, and the CMA has been looking into several incidents for some time on a case-by-case basis.
In a statement, bosses said that they ‘firmly reject accusations’ of Walgreens Boots Alliance or Boots overcharging the NHS.
Investigations into Boots overcharging the NHS
Investigations into Boots overcharging the NHS reportedly found that a special mouthwash that’s being used to treat patients who suffer from sores that are caused by chemotherapy was purchased from Walgreens Boots Alliance at prices ranging between £1,843 and £3,220 between 2013 and 2017.
However, with costs reportedly being as low as £93.00, it’s understandable that this potential issue needs to be investigated by the CMA as a priority to ensure that our National Health Service is not being taken advantage of.
It would not be the first time a private company has taken advantage of the NHS and has found to have been overcharging them. Any suspicions of Boots overcharging the NHS must be looked into as a priority.
We’ll continue to track developments in this case and the story as time goes on.