Some pharmacies charging almost double for basic medicines than cheaper rivals

'Prescription drugs have been described as a major cause of unaffordable expenditure for the Irish public, researchers said. Picture: Pexels

A survey of almost every pharmacy in the country has found a huge variation in the cost of basic medicines, with some stores charging almost double the price of their cheaper counterparts.

The survey captured prices for a range of drugs in 1,353 pharmacies around the country, including for basic items such as paracetemol and aspirin.