This list shows alternative prices, based on fair market research for the most commonly prescribed drugs in Bermuda. This list aims to enhance transparency to help residents understand what goes into the costs of their drugs. Furthermore, it also serves as a pre-cursor for a drug formulary that will mandate the prices at which these drugs are sold.

As we seek to improve the health system, the Bermuda Health Council continuously looks at how to make healthcare more affordable. Over the past four months, we have been looking at solutions to improve one of the largest out-of-pocket costs to Bermuda’s residents, the cost of prescription drugs. This is the Council’s first of many steps to work within the current market to fairly and efficiently increase access to necessary healthcare.

You can use this tool to calculate how much your medication should cost in Bermuda. First, find your medication and dosage on the list. Then, multiply how many pills or ml of a medication you get by the unit cost. Add the dispensing fee (ranges from $15-$38) to that total and you have what your medication would cost. Depending on your insurance coverage, some, or all, of the cost will be covered. Check with your insurance provider to know your level of coverage. Check with multiple pharmacies and shop around for the best price.

For example, if you get five 20mg Citalopram pills that are $0.20 each, you multiply 5 by $0.20 which gives you a drug cost of $1. Then you add the range of dispensing fees of $15-$38 to get a total of $16-$39.

All of these values were determined based on research and consultation with pharmacies, pharmaceutical professional bodies, Pharmacy Council, local importers, insurers as well as claims data. The Health Council received written confirmation of the pharmaceutical claims, the prices per pill, as well as, the components of their dispensing fee and costs of medication from a local importer.

The prices listed are based on the landed costs of each prescription drug plus a 25% margin increase for the importer and an additional 25% increase to account for any fluctuation in the market.  The total cost per prescription will be based on the total cost above, plus a dispensing fee.  Bermuda Health Council confirmed dispensing fess ranging from $15-$38.

Dispensing Fee:

There are many necessary services and fees included in the dispensing fee. (Pharmacies do not receive funds from the actual medication sale) The pharmacies have indicated that these fees include: payroll expenses and benefits, professional insurance, facilities fees, insurance, licensing, inventory costs, and professional pharmacy services. Pharmacists do not bill separately for their professional services, which can include reviews of a prescriptions and potential drug interactions, sourcing and labeling of a product, mixing compounds, dispensing, and consultation.

To read more about the professional requirements for pharmacists, please click here.

This pricing tool is designed to help make drugs more affordable. If you have paid more for your drugs than what is listed, please show this list to your pharmacist and have a discussion about the cost of your drugs. Please also contact the Health Council by calling 292-6420 or emailing healthcouncil@bhec.bm and let us know what you are paying for your drugs.

Memo – Prescription Drug Consumer Pricing

Price List PDF