Recently I purchased a New Zealand Health Authority-recommended elemental dietary supplement which is available without a prescription. The product is usually kept in the dispensary, not in the self-service area. In the NZ Pharmaceutical Schedule the product is fully-funded on prescription. The cost reimbursement to the pharmacy when on prescription is $3.65 for a 90 tablet pack, and wholesale mark-up for items less than $5 is approximately 10 per cent; above that up to five per cent.

Expecting to save on not having to go to the doctor for a prescription, I bought a pack from a pharmacy for $20. Silly me; a miscommunication had occurred as my wife came home later having bought the same pack for $7.90, which is why I am writing this letter. Understandably, because of the nature of the product, medicine returns weren't allowed.

The lesson learned is to phone around first and foremost before purchasing anything from a pharmacy as they're playing on different fields. The $20 purchase came with no offer of verbal advice from the pharmacist, contrary to the $7.90 purchase. Who was the better professional? So buyers beware, phone around beforehand otherwise the ball will be in the supplier's court.

D Wilson, Mount Maunganui.