To wonder why calpol is so expensive?

[busyboysmum]

Triggered really by the debate on my Facebook about whether or not we should be getting calpol through the NHS or not. I got to wondering - if I can buy a packet of paracetamol in Aldi for 19p then why does Calpol which so far as I am aware is just watered down and sugared paracetamol (correct me if I'm wrong) cost £3 a small bottle?

I'm not sure that the figures stack up for me. Instead of us all criticising poor parents for getting a prescription for this shouldn't we be headlining a campaign to get the price of this stuff more in line with what it costs to produce.

£1 a bottle would be so much more fair so far as I can see. What does everyone else think? Why is it so much more expensive than paracetamol?

I am the only one who thinks this free drugs for children is probably one of the things bringing the nhs to its knees. Why are people who can afford this stuff asking for it for free. If someone could add up the cost for the year of it. (I am just guessing her.) It would probably pay for a pay rise for nurses or more itu beds.

I just buy the generic/store brand version of Calpol and Ibuprofen. Does exactly the same thing minus the fancy label. A product being branded doesn't always make it superior.

I like the idea that there is a scheme that allows pain relief free to those who need it, I hate the idea that a child would be in pain because their parents can't afford medications. Some of the grabby posts on FB are hard to stomach though as it costs the NHS a fair bit more than the medication costs and many parents are comfortably able to by everyday medication.

My pharmacy gets about £100 a month from the NHS for offering the service. There are 45 pharmacies in our PCT area and they all offer the service.
We give Hedrin and Ovex as our two main asked for items.

I agree showgirl, the scheme is just a drain on the NHS. If a parent won't buy their own carpool or head lice lotion something is very wrong. Sadly, many expect to have children with others picking up the tab.

showgirl they did add up the costs. If they pay £1.40 plus drug cost for minor ailments scheme, it saves the cost of the gp time & prescription processing, which costs a whole lot more than £1.40.

I live abroad and have to pay 9 quid (I kid you not) for a packet of branded paracetemol. That is standard price in this part of Europe. People in the UK have a really good deal for over the counter medicines because you can get them in supermarkets, unbranded which acts as a way to regulate the price of brands. Pharmaceutical companies have a stranglehold over here and you pay a fortune for the simplest thing and can only access it through a pharmacist. Even paracetemol.

I buy it unbranded in the poundshop. they also dp the sachets which are much better for the cm and when out and about!

Calpol tastes disgusting. It's through sheer martyrdom that I force myself to do a taste test before giving any to the kids

Nah, it's not that expensive. Perfectly in line with other branded drugs.
And unless there's a real medical need I don't think anyone should be getting through enough of the stuff for the price to make much difference. except me lovely lovely Calpol

Lougle - except that a lot of people will pop along to the pharmacy who wouldn't have sat through a doctor's appointment. Especially with it all being spread through Facebook at the moment. Do you know if that has been factored in?

Liquid suspensions always pricier though, adult liquids are pricier too.

That bloody Facebook post is really annoying me. Unless you are really in dire straits surely you can buy your own Calpol/Ovex/Hedrin? I always buy the generic brands. The NHS shouldn't be used for this, such a waste of resources- both in terms of the money spent and the admin involved.

TheEggity
but suppository paracetamol is a lot cheaper in europe than the uk. A packet of 10 is about £18 here for 125mg. In europe i believe it is a fraction of that

This might save in prescription processing and GP costs, but parents just going along to the chemist and buying what their children need would do that too.

Yep, it's branded. Persil vs Tesco's own; Robinson's vs whatever the Co-Op makes own-brand.

I bought Hungry Frogs rather than Hungry Hippos at the weekend. Same product really, half the price. Just not branded.

We buy Calpol for nostalgia (and because once I drank a whole bottle as a 5-year-old and was fine - not scientific reasons at all) but if we couldn't afford it we'd hut the generic. It's a luxury.

and I still have a spoonful every now and again

Hut?! Buy...

I almost never bought Calpol. Ridiculously priced branded product.

As with all over the counter medicines, I buy generic versions. They are a fraction of the price of the branded ones, and the active ingredients are just the same. Why pay more when you don't need to.

When you are given an over the counter product on an NHS prescription you are, in my experience anyway, prescribed a generic version where one exists. I am not aware that you can ask for particular brands, though perhaps it might be considered in the case of serious allergies??

Yes, madamginger, you are correct. I apologise. I should have double checked before posting. I've never used the scheme myself as a bottle of Calpol tends to last a couple of years so it doesn't seem to work out too expensive. Plus I figure that it's best left to those who are struggling financially because whoever is paying won't continue to pay if it starts to be used by everyone therefore meaning those in genuine need, lose out. I'm not on Facebook so I didn't realise it was a big thing on there.

You can get it for free

www.boots.com/en/Pharmacy-Health/Health-pharmacy-services/Pharmacy-services-support/I-need-more-information/Minor-ailments-service-NHS/

It is awkward and they will argue the toss but you can get it for free :)

But in terms of brands; I always buy calprofen rather than nurofen because the taste is so much better. I think the sickly orange flavour is very off putting.

That link says selected stores in England. I am yet to find anywhere on line which selected stores it is...

The minor ailments scheme has been about for years. It used to be called the direct care scheme. Instead of doc prescribing a generic treatment, pharmacy will. However you had to present the child who required treatment and sign for it.

Because it's psychological isn't it? people think. If they are spending more on a well kown brand then it's better than the others. But its exactly the same stuff.

why people would spent three pounds on calpol 6+ when you can buy paracetamol for pennies I don't know.

calpol has become the name for all pain meds for kids so maybe people forget others exist?

I don't bother I just buy whatever. not paying extra for a name it's no better

It's not just Boots that offer the service, I work for Tesco and we do it.

Some areas have stopped it because it was being abused. A local-ish to us health authority stopped it because people were getting stuff and sending it abroad

Thing is, it's all relative.
Whereas I agree you are far better to buy the unbranded stuff, ultimately, even if you shelled out for the full price Calpol, it's not really a lot of money to alleviate your child's pain, is it ???

Try comparing the cost of a dose of Calpol to the cost of some of the 'treats' you buy for your child, or activities you do with them.