medicine on the Island.

And the Health Care Review Committee is also looking into how medicine is distributed to elderly patients in areas away from the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital.

Health Minister the Hon. Quinton Edness revealed the Government was already seeking recommendations, following calls by Opposition Leader Mr. Frederick Wade for an investigation into "profiteering'' from the sale of medicine.

Mr. Wade said he had experience of the same medication costing $10 in the United States and $30 in Bermuda.

He said: "I called for an investigation because I want Government to look into the costs of medication. I do not know who fixes prices it could be the wholesalers, the retailers or possibly both.

"The costs of drugs in Bermuda are just too high. I just want to know if people are making big profits out of selling these drugs to people in Bermuda.'' Mr. Wade added that he was concerned about the distribution of drugs particularly to elderly people in areas like St. George's and St. David's.

Bermuda Pharmaceutical Association President Mrs. Cheryl Martins defended the prices charged for prescription medicines.

Mrs. Martins said: "Some US drugs are more expensive here than in the United States, but we have many British drugs which are cheaper than in the United States.

"Prices are generally set by the owners of the pharmacies and our association does not deal with that front shop side of things.

"However I do not believe Mr. Wade should make such broad statements. I do not believe he is so knowledgeable about this. He may have had one or two examples.

"He is not in the business and he should make such statements about profiteering. He should stick to law. I certainly do not get $100 an hour for being a lawyer, although I am sure it is justified.'' The Health Minister Mr. Edness pointed out that normally elderly people would be able to go to local pharmacies for their medicine, unless they were under hospital treatment.

Mr. Edness said that a scheme was in place to provide Somerset Pharmacy and Robertson's Pharmacy in St. George's with some of the medicines for certain patients at those ends of the Island. He said this had temporarily been stopped.

Mr. Edness said: "I do not agree with a scheme that would deliver medicine to people's homes in these cases.'' Concerning the costs of drugs the Minister said: "The Government has been concerned for some time and there have been a number of investigations.

"The main problem with finding the cost of drugs is the number of things that you have to take into account. It becomes very complicated.'' Mr. Edness said that information had been received that showed the medicines in Bermuda were often cheaper than the same items in North America, and he stressed there was a 10 percent discount for many older people.

He said: "We decided to pursue this even further although it was getting more and more complicated. we decided to pass it on as an issue for the Health Care Review Committee and they are looking into the matter.'' The committee will look carefully into the situation including factors like transportation and the Island's location, before making recommendations to the Government.