The economic section of the El Caribe newspaper carries the story of the large increase in the prices of some of the most commonly used medicines in the Dominican Republic. Although there have been price increases of as much as 70 percent, the average increase is 10 percent over the past month. Vitamins, decongestants and other over-the-counter medicines have also suffered price increases. Although medications were exempt from the 10-percent surcharge announced by the President two weeks ago, the rise in the cost of dollars and the increase in fuel prices have sparked the higher costs of pharmaceuticals, according to the president of the National Association of Pharmacy Owners, Tony Rodriguez.