prescription prices.

There have been many complaints that prices in Bermuda are much higher than in the United States.

But the CAB's informal survey has discovered that Bermuda's prescription costs are comparable to those in the United States and in many instances are less expensive.

The results showed that prices of the top 25 prescription items at the Phoenix Stores (which co-operated with the survey), a popular US discount store and another independent pharmacy in the US Northeast were all similar.

The survey, conducted between December and January, said: "Top dollar volume items are those generally dispensed in higher quantities and with a higher cost per prescription.

"They are often prescribed for chronic conditions requiring long-term use, e.g. Vaseretic 10-25 for blood pressure.

"Nineteen of the 25 items were less expensive in Bermuda and, on average, the local price was close to 21 percent less than the US discount chain price.

The independent results showed 21 items to be less expensive.'' Examples of cheaper Bermuda prices were: 100 Vasotec 10mg tablets for blood pressure which cost $44.90 at the Phoenix and between $78.99 and $92.60 in the US; 100 Mevacor 20 mg tablets for cholesterol were $147.35 in Bermuda, compared to prices of $159.99 and 199.65 in the US; and 50 anti-inflammatory Voltaren 50 mg were $36.85 compared to between $43.99 and $53.82.

Drugs that were found to be more expensive in Bermuda included the Ventolin inhaler, Prozac anti-depressant capsules and Timoptic glaucoma tablets.

The survey goes on: "The overall average prescription price in Bermuda which has been estimated to be approximately $29 is not much higher than the overall average price in the US, estimated to be $25.''