People can cross check medicine prices with MOH lists in stores

 People can now compare the price of medicines, listed on the pharmacy bottles, against official lists available at the pharmacy to make sure that the store hasn't overcharged them.

A statement by the Ministry of Health read, "The Directorate General of Pharmaceutical Affairs and Control points out that all citizens and residents have the right to confirm the ratified price [of medicines] by comparing the price on the drug bottle with the price list available in the pharmacy.

Pharmacies in Oman have a list of prices which they need to adhere to, making sure that everyone in Oman can purchase medication at official prices.

The manager of a Pharmacy in Al Khoudh told Times of Oman that his store has an electronic list which it keeps in a database. "If customers ask the pharmacy about a specific price, the employee will show him the MOH price, which should match the list by the MOH," the manager said. However, he pointed out that since the list was very long, it was not printed out.

According to him, some customers sometimes visit two pharmacies or more to make sure that the price of their medicine is correct.

In this case, the Ministry suggests another solution. "When any disparity is spotted, inform the MOH Call Centre and the DG will take the necessary action," the statement added.

According to rules, all prices in local pharmacies should be the same.

"The price of medicines at all the Sultanate’s Governorates are unified according to the list distributed to all pharmacies, which are updated from time to time based on changes that occur in this regard," the statement added.

The Ministry's reaction came during a recent meeting by the Technical Committee of Pharmaceutical Companies and their Products Registration and Drug Pricing, chaired by the Director General of Pharmaceutical Affairs and Control Dr. Mohammed Hamdan Al Rubaie.

The meeting agenda included the registering of six new pharmaceutical companies and reducing the price of 16 pharmaceutical products, as well as reviewing the registration and pricing applications of 22 pharmaceutical products.