The Health Ministry along with other stakeholders is setting up a system to monitor prescription fees and prices of medicine.

Minister Dr Neil Sharma said retail pharmacies are allowed a maximum markup of 30% for over the counter drugs and 35% for prescription drugs plus a dispensing fee of 45cents on pharmaceuticals dispensed on doctors’ prescriptions.

Dr Sharma said the retail pharmacies must ensure that proper markup is used in pricing of pharmaceuticals, labeling requirements are met when dispensing pharmaceuticals including quantity and price, keep all records properly and cooperate with authorities if complaints are made against them.

He added the reason behind this is to ensure that consumers’ rights are protected while at the same time promote access to medicine.

The Health Ministry will work in collaboration with the Consumer Council of Fiji, the Prices and Incomes Board, the Pharmaceutical Society of Fiji and the chief pharmacists on behalf of the Pharmacy Board.