The UK is paying almost five times the average cost for generic drugs, according to a new index of prices for 13 commonly prescribed drugs across 50 countries.
The 2019 Medicine Index, compiled by the digital health provider Medbelle, collates cost data for the brand and generic forms of sildenafil (Viagra), pregabalin (Lyrica), atorvastatin (Lipitor), salbutamol (Ventolin), azithromycin (Zithromax), insulin glargine (Lantus), tacrolimus (Prograf), drospirenone/ethinylestradiol (Yasmin), fluoxetine (Prozac), alprazolam (Xanax), lisinopril (Zestril), tenofovir (Viread) and adalimumab (Humira).
The data show that the UK pays 39 per cent more than the average for generic lisinopril, 60 per cent more for pregabalin and a staggering 75 per cent more for atorvastatin.
However, the data also show some positives, with the cost of most generics coming in under the average. In the UK, the cost of a standard dose of generic alprazolam was almost half and drospirenone/ethinylestradiol costs 44 per cent less than the average. The cost of fluoxetine was a quarter of the average price.
Overall, the UK paid out 5 per cent more than the average cost for branded and generic forms of the 13 drugs combined. The overall price for the 13 brand products was 21 per cent lower than the median price, but the cost of the generic formulations was a massive 470 per cent higher than the average.