GALWAY MEDICINE PRICES DIFFER BY AVERAGE OF 30 PERCENT

That's the finding of a nationwide study of 42 common prescription medicines carried out by the National Consumer Agency.

The study shows that the maximum percentage price variation in Galway for a single prescription medicine was 97 percent.

15 of the products were 30 percent more expensive in some Galway chemists compared to competitors in the same region, with 8 of the products having a price variation of over 40 percent.

One particular prescription, 100 5milligram valium tablets, differed in price in Galway from 4 euro 50 cent to 8euro 27 cent, a variation of 84 percent.

However, the relative cost for prescription drugs in Galway is the lowest, 4 and a half percent below the national average.