The Missus and I are just back from our annual holiday in the Algarve.
While there, we filled 12 months' of our prescriptions; prescriptions that would have cost about €840 in Ireland, but cost only €280 in Portugal.
So our saving was in the region of €560. And allowing for the 20% tax refund on the cost of medications, the net saving was about €400.
The cost of our two return flights was under €400, so the saving paid for our holiday flights! I find the price differential baffling and assume that it's the expensive downside of Ireland having so many pharma manufacturing companies in the country.
It's currently possible to book a return flight from Dublin to Faro for less than €55 (I didn't bother checking Lisbon or Porto). Anyone with a significant monthly medication bill should seriously consider enjoying a short break abroad, paid for by the saving on their medications!
While there, we filled 12 months' of our prescriptions; prescriptions that would have cost about €840 in Ireland, but cost only €280 in Portugal.
So our saving was in the region of €560. And allowing for the 20% tax refund on the cost of medications, the net saving was about €400.
The cost of our two return flights was under €400, so the saving paid for our holiday flights! I find the price differential baffling and assume that it's the expensive downside of Ireland having so many pharma manufacturing companies in the country.
It's currently possible to book a return flight from Dublin to Faro for less than €55 (I didn't bother checking Lisbon or Porto). Anyone with a significant monthly medication bill should seriously consider enjoying a short break abroad, paid for by the saving on their medications!