Gaps of tens of percent: Common medications sold at double the price
A check by Ha-Tzinor on Channel 13 reveals that consumers pay tens of percent more for well-known brands, while equivalent products with the same active ingredient are sold at much lower prices.
Significant price gaps have been identified for medications with identical active ingredients sold in pharmacies and pharmacy chains.
Data presented on the program "Ha-Tzinor" on Channel 13 shows that consumers pay tens of percent more for well-known brand-name medications, while equivalent products containing the same medical substance are offered at significantly lower prices.
One of the most prominent gaps found during the investigation was recorded in topical anti-inflammatory preparations for muscle pain. The preparation based on the active ingredient Diclofenac under the brand "Voltaren" is sold for 76.65 NIS. In contrast, the equivalent "Physicar" is sold for only 34.99 NIS, representing a price difference of 119.1 percent.
Gaps were also recorded in preparations for allergies and stings based on Dimethindine Maleate. The "Fenistil" brand is sold for 89.96 NIS, while the equivalent "Dermostin" is priced at 58.20 NIS, a difference of 54.6 percent.
In the field of anti-fungal treatments based on Terbinafine, a gap of 59.1 percent was recorded: "Lamisil" is sold for 86.46 NIS, compared to the equivalent "Dermasil" at 54.36 NIS.
Furthermore, the investigation covered common daily medications for pain and fever. For Paracetamol-based products, "Acamol" is sold for 40.58 NIS, while "Paramol" is priced at 28.24 NIS—a difference of 43.7 percent. For Ibuprofen-based medications, "Advil" is sold for 59.80 NIS, compared to "Ibupro" at 45.15 NIS, a price gap of 32.5 percent.
