Treatcompare is a healthcare price comparison service. The following describes how we collect, verify, and present data so that users can understand how our comparisons work and make informed decisions.
Provider verification process
Before a provider's prices appear on Treatcompare, we verify their registration with the relevant UK regulatory body:
- Pharmacies are checked against the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) register. We verify the pharmacy registration number and confirm the premises are currently registered.
- Healthcare services (such as weight management clinics) are checked against the Care Quality Commission (CQC) register. We confirm the provider is registered and has not had its registration suspended or cancelled.
- Doctor-led services are additionally checked against the General Medical Council (GMC) register to confirm the named clinician holds a licence to practise.
- Optical providers are checked against the General Optical Council (GOC) register.
Verification is performed when a provider is first added and is re-checked periodically. If a provider's registration lapses or is revoked, they are removed from all listings immediately. We also maintain a flagging system for providers whose pricing or behaviour appears suspicious, which triggers a manual review before any data is displayed.
Price collection process
Prices are collected from provider websites using automated scraping. Our scrapers visit provider pricing pages and extract the cost of each treatment, along with metadata about what is included in the price.
Frequency
Weight loss medication prices are typically updated daily. HRT and eyecare prices are updated at least weekly. Each price record includes a timestamp showing when it was last checked, which is displayed alongside the price on comparison pages.
What “inclusions” means
Different providers include different services in their headline price. Some include the initial clinical consultation; others charge separately. We record whether each listing includes: clinical consultation, ongoing monitoring, prescriber access, and blood tests. This information is displayed on comparison pages so users can compare total cost, not just headline price.
Price normalisation
Providers sell treatments in different pack sizes and durations. To enable fair comparison, we normalise prices to a standard unit — per week for injectable weight loss medications, per month for other treatments. The original pack size and price are retained in our data and can be viewed on individual listing pages.
Outlier detection and quality control
We run automated outlier detection on every price update. If a price is significantly above or below the median for that treatment, it is flagged for manual review. Flagged prices are not displayed until a reviewer confirms they are accurate. This prevents scraping errors, temporary website glitches, or deliberately misleading prices from appearing in comparisons.
How providers are added or removed
Providers are added to Treatcompare when they meet all of the following criteria:
- They hold valid registration with the relevant UK regulatory body (GPhC, CQC, GMC, or GOC).
- Their prices are publicly displayed on their website.
- They sell directly to patients (not wholesale or trade-only).
Providers are removed if their registration is revoked, if they cease trading, or if they are flagged as suspicious and fail manual review. Providers can also request removal by contacting us.
How disputes are handled
If a provider believes their price or listing is inaccurate, they can contact us with their regulatory registration number for verification. We will review and correct any errors within two working days. If a user reports an inaccurate price, we will re-scrape the provider's website and update accordingly.
Data accuracy disclaimer
While we make every effort to ensure prices are accurate and up to date, Treatcompare cannot guarantee that all prices are correct at any given moment. Prices can change at any time and may differ from what is shown on this site. Always verify the final price directly with the provider before making a purchase or booking a consultation.
Treatcompare does not provide medical advice. The information on this site is for comparison purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before starting any treatment.