Pharmacists claim Strep A antibiotic prices have risen tenfold amid 'profiteering'

Pharmacists say the cost of antibiotics has risen tenfold in recent days amid claims suppliers are seeking to "profiteer" from a shortage caused by the deadly Strep A outbreak.

- REBECCA THOMAS

Images seen by The Independent showed the costs of amoxicillin from one supplier rose from £2 to £19.36 for 100ml. That's well below the £1.92 tariff paid per 500mg that pharmacists are reimbursed by the NHS for supplying the drug via prescription. The government has been urged to get a grip on spiralling drug prices as pharmacists fear suppliers are capitalising on the antibiotic shortages.

One national pharmacy source said: "We are now seeing stock entering the market at a tenfold higher price. Seems wholesalers are exploiting the situation to profiteer and increase prices. The prices pharmacies are paid are fixed by the NHS and so pharmacy is in the invidious position of having to dispense at a loss or refuse to supply which is in breach of NHS contracts."

One supplier whose stock rose to almost £20 said the rise was a system glitch and prices had now returned to around previous levels. Evidence of prices shared yesterday with The Independent shows drug prices across major wholesalers were higher, in some cases double, the cost from Thursday.

The NHS has been forced to speed up deliveries of Strep A antibiotics as pharmacists have struggled to get supplies of drugs to treat the bacterial infection that has killed 16 children in the UK since September.