Free guide · 3 min read
Check the maximum price of your prescription medicine
Last reviewed 2026-10-01
In South Africa the price of prescription medicine is regulated. Manufacturers sell at a regulated Single Exit Price, and pharmacies may add only a capped dispensing fee. So there is a legal maximum for what a pharmacy may charge you or your scheme.
Check the price yourself
- Go to the Medicine Price Registry and search for the medicine by name.
- Select the right strength and pack size.
- Compare the maximum price shown with what your pharmacy charged.
Use the generics list
The registry also lists generic equivalents and their prices. A generic with the same active ingredient is often much cheaper. Ask your doctor or pharmacist whether it is suitable for you.
If you cannot find the medicine
It is probably sold without a prescription, so it is not on the registry. Ask your pharmacist whether buying it off the shelf would cost less than having it dispensed.
If you were charged more
Ask the pharmacy to explain and correct the price in writing. If they will not, you can complain to your scheme and, for pricing matters, to the regulator.
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Join the list and we will tell you when we open for member cases.
General information only, not legal, medical or financial advice. Scheme rules and regulations change, and every case turns on its own facts. We cannot guarantee any outcome.