When it comes to health care, the price of medicine can make a big difference in how accessible treatment is to people. New research from Compare the Market has revealed a striking contrast in the cost of essential medications across different countries.
While some nations are burdened with exorbitant prices, others, like South Africa, have managed to keep medication costs low. This affordability is particularly remarkable given that the majority of South Africas citizens rely on the public healthcare system.
The study looked at the prices of 12 common medications across 10 countries, and the results were eye-opening, to say the least.
South Africa emerged as one of the most affordable places to buy medication, with prices for some drugs being a fraction of what they cost in other parts of the world.
For example, a prescription for Xanax (used to treat anxiety) costs just US$1.38 (about R24) in South Africa. Meanwhile, in the US, the same drug can cost as much as US$96.30 a staggering difference.
