South Africa is entering flu season, with many South Africans anticipated to visit pharmacies to purchase medicine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Medicine is essential in fighting off illnesses in South Africa, but it can be costly, particularly for those who do not consider it in their monthly budgets. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
COVID-19 may seem like a distant memory, but several other viruses are still spreading in South Africa. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dis-Chem and Clicks pharmacies may be the largest dispensaries in the country, but over-the-counter medications are also widely available at supermarkets, like Pick n Pay, or at special in-store dispensaries like Medi-Rite in Checkers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For this comparison, we compared the prices of the ten everyday over-the-counter items that South Africans can buy from all four stores. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
For the comparison to be accurate, we only looked at the non-promotional prices. If the store exclusively provided the promotional price on its website, we would calculate it using all available information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Overall, Checkers was the cheapest retailer in the comparison, with the basket of items costing R965.91.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dis-Chem came second, with the ten items coming out to R998.58.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Clicks dropped from last year’s number one to third overall, with the ten items costing R1,002.20.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Pick n Pay remains the most expensive basket overall, at R1,026.90. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Price increases <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Although the outlook for South African consumers may be improving amid decreasing inflation and lower levels of load shedding, many are still facing challenges at the tills. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Inflation in South Africa dropped from 5.3% in March to 5.2% in April and is expected to average around 5.1% in 2024\u2014down from the average of 6% seen in 2024. <\/p>\n\n\n\n However, the average year-on-year increase for the medical items compared was higher than the most recent inflation figure, with an average increase of 8.89%.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Checkers saw the smallest increase of 6.74%.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On the other end of the scale, Clicks saw an 11.39% increase. <\/p>\n\n\n\nProduct<\/strong><\/td> Dis-Chem<\/strong><\/td> Clicks<\/strong><\/td> PnP<\/strong><\/td> Checkers <\/strong><\/td><\/tr> Med-Lemon (18s)<\/td> R149.95<\/td> R150.00<\/mark><\/td> R149.99<\/td> R144.99<\/mark><\/td><\/tr> Strepsils (24s)<\/td> R99.95<\/td> R99.99<\/td> R101.99<\/mark><\/td> R79.99<\/mark><\/td><\/tr> Vicks Acta Plus (100ml)<\/td> R84.99<\/mark><\/td> R84.99<\/mark><\/td> R88.99<\/td> R84.99<\/mark><\/td><\/tr> Citro Soda (120g)<\/td> R109.95<\/td> R127.50<\/td> R122.99<\/td> R109.99<\/td><\/tr> Sinutab Saline Nasal Spray (15ml)<\/td> R89.95<\/td> R89.99<\/td> R89.99<\/td> R87.99<\/td><\/tr> Elastoplast Water Resistant (20s)<\/td> R36.95<\/td> R29.99<\/td> R27.99<\/td> R25.99<\/td><\/tr> Panado (24s)<\/td> R34.95<\/td> R33.75<\/td> R36.99<\/td> R33.99<\/td><\/tr> Vicks Vaporub (50g)<\/td> R72.99<\/td> R72.99<\/td> R72.99<\/td> R68.99<\/td><\/tr> Deep Heat Rub (100g)<\/td> R 113.95<\/td> R119.00<\/td> R134.99<\/td> R134.99<\/td><\/tr> Centrum Multivitamin Active (30s)<\/td> R194.95<\/td> R194.00<\/td> R199.99<\/td> R194.99<\/td><\/tr> Total <\/strong><\/td> R988.58<\/strong><\/mark><\/td> R1 002.20<\/strong><\/td> R1 026.90<\/strong><\/mark><\/td> R965.91<\/mark><\/strong><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Retailers <\/strong><\/td> 2023<\/strong><\/td> 2024<\/strong><\/td> Change<\/strong><\/td><\/tr> Dis-Chem<\/td> R916,54<\/td> R988.58<\/mark><\/td> 7.86%<\/td><\/tr> Clicks<\/td> R899,69<\/td> R1 002.20<\/td> 11.39%<\/mark><\/td><\/tr> PnP <\/td> R937.42<\/td> R1 026.90<\/mark><\/td> 9.55%<\/td><\/tr> Checkers<\/td> R904.90<\/td> R965.91<\/mark><\/td> 6.74%<\/mark><\/td><\/tr> Average<\/strong><\/td> –<\/td> –<\/td> 8.89%<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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