LIVI - cheaper medication if you go private?

Claim made by: LIVI
Location: On a flyer I received outside Highbury and Islington Station
Spotted on: 2019-02-04

Livi - an app that allows you to have video GP appointments claimed on a flyer that "many types of medication will cost less when purchased privately"

Update 2019-03-22

I asked for the evidence behind the claim and received this response from their marketing director.

Hello Alex,

Many thanks for getting in touch with your question.

The reason why many types of medication will cost less when purchased privately in England is due to the way NHS charges a fixed price of £8.80 for each individual item on a prescription. This means that there are many cases where it is cheaper for a patient to buy medication privately rather than through NHS prescription.

I've included an illustrative example of some commonly prescribed medications below.

Aqueous Cream B.P - 500ml
Private purchase price £3.59
NHS Prescription price £8.80
Live price-check, Boots: https://www.boots.com/boots-pharmaceuticals-aqueous-cream-b-p-500ml-10115225

Hydrocortisone 1% Ointment - 15 g
Private purchase price £3.49
NHS Prescription price £8.80
Live price-check, Boots: https://www.boots.com/boots-derma-care-hydrocortisone-ointment-15-g-10033239

I hope this helps.

Kind regards,

Chris

Rating

It's nonsense

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