NHS pill supplier slammed for ‘hiking up price of life-saving medication by 12,000 per cent’ with tablets costing £88 per pack
Acatavis UK accused of hiking up prices to extortionate levels by competition watchdog
A DRUGS firm has been accused of exploiting the NHS by hiking the price of life-saving medication by more than 12,000 per cent.
The competition watchdog says Actavis UK upped 10mg hydrocortisone tablets from 70p per pack in April 2008 to £88 per pack by March 2016.
It has also been condemned for ramping up the price of 20mg hydrocortisone tablets from £1.07 to £102.74 per pack.
They are for people whose adrenal glands do not produce enough natural steroid hormones, such as patients suffering with the life-threatening Addison’s disease.
More than 943,000 packs were dispensed in the UK in 2015. The hikes saw the NHS hydrocortisone pills bill rocket from £522,000 to £70million a year by 2015.
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The Competition and Markets Authority alleges Actavis UK broke competition law. The CMA’s Andrew Groves said: “This drug is relied on by thousands of patients.
“We allege that the company has taken advantage of this situation leaving the NHS — and ultimately the taxpayer — footing the bill.”
An Actavis UK spokesman said the firm was reviewing the CMA’s statement and intends to defend the allegations.
NUROFEN'S £3MILLION PAIN
THE UK maker of Nurofen has had its fine for misleading consumers more than tripled to £3.5million.
Reckitt Benckiser sold products targeting four “specific pains” such as migraine or back pain.
Australia’s Federal Court ruled all contained the same ibuprofen dose.
The nation’s competition watchdog appealed the initial £1million fine. Sydney judges increased the sum yesterday.
