-
Advertorial
-
FOCUS
-
Guide
-
Lifestyle
-
Tech and Vogue
-
TechandScience
-
CHTF Special
-
Nanhan
-
Asian Games
-
Hit Bravo
-
Special Report
-
Junior Journalist Program
-
World Economy
-
Opinion
-
Diversions
-
Hotels
-
Movies
-
People
-
Person of the week
-
Weekend
-
Photo Highlights
-
Currency Focus
-
Kaleidoscope
-
Tech and Science
-
News Picks
-
Yes Teens
-
Fun
-
Budding Writers
-
Campus
-
Glamour
-
News
-
Digital Paper
-
Food drink
-
Majors_Forum
-
Speak Shenzhen
-
Business_Markets
-
Shopping
-
Travel
-
Restaurants
-
Hotels
-
Investment
-
Yearend Review
-
In depth
-
Leisure Highlights
-
Sports
-
World
-
QINGDAO TODAY
-
Entertainment
-
Business
-
Markets
-
Culture
-
China
-
Shenzhen
-
Important news
在线翻译:
szdaily -> China
HK’s cheaper high-end medicine lures mainlanders
     2013-August-15  08:53    Shenzhen Daily

    MANY high-end imported pharmaceuticals are sold for much less in Hong Kong than in mainland drug stores, Chinese media has reported, prompting more mainland customers to purchase them across the border.

    Some cancer drugs — most costing HK$10,000 (US$1,290) to HK$20,000 in Hong Kong — are thousands of dollars more expensive on the mainland, People’s Daily reported yesterday.

    A bottle of 120 tablets of Glivec, a Swiss drug that treats leukemia, for example, costs HK$22,330 in Hong Kong, but is sold for 25,500 yuan (HK$32,058) across the border. The price difference for other medications can range from HK$500 to more than HK$10,000.

    A 440-milliliter bottle of Herceptin, a drug for breast cancer treatment made by Swiss-based Roche, is marked up more than HK$10,000 on the mainland than in Hong Kong, where it goes for HK$19,110.

    The solution for some people on the mainland is to buy the imported pharmaceuticals in Hong Kong.

    The owner of a drug store in Sai Wan told People’s Daily that mainland buyers now contribute to as much as half of his sales. He said he brings in HK$100,000 in sales every day, and estimated that the proportion of buyers was probably higher in areas with more tourists, such as Causeway Bay.

    Swiss pharmaceutical Roche said the markup mostly comes from tariffs.

    “Herceptin’s price on the mainland is set by the National Development and Reform Commission,” a spokesman said, referring to China’s powerful economics regulator.

    Another factor contributing to the price difference is the commission fee between pharmacies and hospitals on the mainland, Chui Chun-ming, chairman of the Society of Hospital Pharmacists of Hong Kong, told People’s Daily.

    Mainland hospitals have traditionally relied heavily on medicine sales to uphold its enormous operational costs. (SD-Agencies)

深圳报业集团版权所有, 未经授权禁止复制; Copyright 2010, All Rights Reserved.
Shenzhen Daily E-mail:szdaily@szszd.com.cn