Pharmacy opts to keep fees low

A Christchurch pharmacy is bucking the trend of national prescription fee hikes.

Prescription charges will, from today, increase from $3 an item to $5 as the Government looks to cover the cost of extra health spending.

The Community Pharmacy in Linwood, which since opening two years ago has charged under the rate at $1.50, will now charge no more than $3 an item.

Pharmacist Ann Tiller said she and husband, Joe, set up the pharmacy to ensure medicine was accessible to those who could least afford it.

She estimated the lower fees had saved the community up to $50,000 in prescription charges.

It was difficult increasing prices an additional $1.50, she said.

"We have people for whom even $1.50 is a mission, so $3 no doubt is going to make it that much more challenging. Hopefully, it's still at a sufficient level that people still come and get their meds.

"We're just trying to keep it as low as we can."

Pharmacies could set their own prices up to the higher $5 ceiling, but Tiller said choosing not to did not affect their bottom line.

"Basically, it's like our donation back to the community. From the $3 to the $5, that's $2 we don't get paid and that's our way of helping our community, which is what we're about."

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Pharmacy opts to keep fees low