Price gouging fine for Advanz is a rare story that is becoming common | Phillip Inman

Competition and Markets Authority is working on a string of cases involving the NHS being overcharged for drugs

A fine by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) for unfair pricing by private health companies is a rare story that looks set to become increasingly common.

This week’s example is the £100m penalty dished out to the pharmaceutical company Advanz, which was accused of price gouging after it became clear that the 6,000% increase over 10 years in the cost to GPs of its liothyronine tablets, which are used to treat thyroid hormone deficiency, was an unjustifiable and deliberate policy of increasing profits to the detriment of the public purse.

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