A supermarket chain Asda, in a move to establish itself as the most competitive pharmacy in the UK, plans to sell fertility drugs without profit, claiming it will save patients hundreds of Pounds per treatment.

The retailer's research found 63% of people were unaware that private prescription prices varied between pharmacies. About 92% of people were discovered to have never compared the prices of private prescription drugs.

£1,171.41 will be charged by Asda Pharmacy for drugs to accompany one IVF cycle, which would end up saving up to £820 compared with other pharmacies.

Asda Superintendent Pharmacist John Evans said, "We know that an IVF postcode lottery means a considerable number of women will have to pay for additional cycles of treatment and lots of customers have spoken to us about the issue"

The announcement has been welcomed by patient organization Infertility Network UK. Infertility Network UK Chief Executive Clare Lewis-Jones said, "Many patients who should be eligible for NHS treatment are being forced to pay for private treatment due to the appalling lack of full implementation of the NICE fertility guidelines".