Supermarket plans cheaper medicines

SUPERMARKET giant E.Leclerc plans to sell over-the-counter medicines in its stores with the aim of bringing prices down by 25-30% compared to pharmacies.

Store boss Michel-Edouard Leclerc said on Canal + TV that there was “not much competition between chemists” and prices varied very little “so, we are going to try to introduce a little competition”.

Along with toiletries, cosmetics and baby foods he said they would bring in pharmacists to allow them to sell common drugs, such as those that were not reimbursed by the social security.

He said that the move would strike a “heavy blow for the purchasing power of patients, of consumers”.

Mr Leclerc promised that his supermarkets “will sell cheaper, between 25% and 30% compared to the prices in a chemist”.