The Consumer and Competition Division of the Competitiveness Ministry is in talks with medicines importers on price reductions, and has an eye on the market to ensure against high prices for medicines.

It said yesterday more price reductions have been agreed and with another batch being announced, the number of medicines whose price has been brought down, is now 38.

The division is also watching the situation of other products, such as cereals, to ensure, it said, that no unjustified price rises are made.

The latest batch of medicines whose price has been brought down are:

The ministry referred to a news report about the medicine Co Diovan which, it was claimed, had risen from Lm12.38 (Euro28.84) to Lm16.36 (Euro38.11) between October and November. In fact the prices quoted were for Co-Diovan 80mg (Lm12.38) and for Co-Diovan 160mg, meaning a double dose (Lm16.36). That price has held since the product was introduced in the market, the ministry said.