Prescription drug dispensing fees

If you happen to be like me and don't visit your local pharmacy on regular bases, you may get caught surprised by paying relatively high extra charge on your prescription drugs in form of the dispensing fee. Yesterday, I had my prescription medications prepared by the Rexal Pharmacy in Vancouver. The combined cost for two different drugs was $11.79, however the total at the register came to $31.79. Why? The dispensing fees in amount of $10.00 have been applied to each prescriptions.

 

I haven't been able to find an information comparing those fees in Vancouver pharmacies, but I'm sure it would be very similar to the one bellow from Victoria. The amounts of the dispensing fees are apparently quite comparable across Canada, ranging from $9.00 - $12.00, but according to my research, the Costco stands clearly as a winner with more than 50% lower dispensing fees than any other competitors.

Milo.

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Prescription drug dispensing fees - Victoria, BC - November 2010:

Costco $4.49

Save On Foods 9.10

Wal Mart 9.60

London Drugs 9.60

Zellers 9.60

Bahrs 9.60

Medecine Shoppe 9.60

Thrifty’s 9.60

View Street Pharmacy 9.60

Safeway 10.60

Rexall 11.10

Shoppers 11.60

Peoples 11.60

Pharmasave 11.99