Tip of the iceberg, mate. I work as a pharmacist locum and it's the same wherever you go. The pharmacy owners get a percentage of the cost, so are happy to go along with it. In fact, you could argue that it is to their advantage to shop around for the most expensive quote! I should add that I have no evidence that anyone has done that and that the Royal Pharmaceutical Society would take a very dim view if someone did, but the taxpayer is getting ripped off. It might be worth remembering that the next time your elderly relative is refused expensive drugs for dementia because he/she doesn't have the right postcode.