In the UK patients pay a flat charge for a prescription which is around £10. For that reason I rarely prescribe something like ibuprofen or paracetamol outside

In the UK patients pay a flat charge for a prescription which is around £10. For that reason I rarely prescribe something like ibuprofen or paracetamol outside of the hospital. I will always tell the patients to buy it themselves over the counter for around £0.16, unless there is a good reason to deliver it via a prescription.