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Reduced prescription charges
01/04/2009
A further reduction of prescription charges for people in Scotland came into effect today.
The new charges are:
- £4 for a single prescription item
- £13 for a 4 month Pre-payment Certificate (PPC)
- £38 for a 12 month Pre-payment Certificate
Since the introduction of reduced charges in April 2008, the number of Prescription Pre-payment Certificates has increased by 110 per cent to 343,100, enabling many more patients, particularly those with long-term conditions, to save money and spread the cost of their medication.
Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon, during a visit to a pharmacy in Edinburgh, said:
"When we introduced the policy to abolish prescriptions charges from April 2011 we did so because the Scottish Government does not believe in taxing those people with ill-health.
"It is right, in-line with upholding the founding principles of the NHS, that healthcare should be free at the point of access and I believe that removing the prescription charge will ensure that cost is not a barrier to those needing to take the medication prescribed to them.
"I am very encouraged to learn that so many patients, whatever their health needs, are benefitting from the substantial reduction of charges as we make our way to full abolition. The universality of this policy, particularly in these tough economic times, is delivering a real reduction in personal cost to all those who need medication.
"This is having a welcome impact on helping to improve people's long-term health and the further reduction in charges should help even further."
This latest reduction in charges will be further publicised through poster and leaflet advertising detailing the newly reduced charges.
In December 2007 the Scottish Government announced its decision to abolish prescription charges for all patients in Scotland from April 2011.
The phasing out of charges is following the planned approach shown below:
Year Single Item 4-mth PPC 12-mth PPC
2007 £6.85 £35.85 £98.70
2008/09 £5.00 £17.00 £48.00
2009/10 £4.00 £13.00 £38.00
2010/11 £3.00 £10.00 £28.00
2011/12 Zero Zero Zero
Prescription Pre-Payment Certificates can be purchased for a 4 or 12 month period and cover the cost of all NHS prescriptions over that time. These are of real benefit to patients who require large amounts of medication and to whom cost remains a barrier to collecting some of the medication prior to full abolition. On introducing reduced charges in April 2008, the Scottish Government reduced the price of Pre-Payment Certificates (PPCs) by over 50 per cent.
4. The latest PPC data is as follows:
PPC data 12 mth and 4 mth combined [NHS Board area] | April 1 2008 - February 28 2009 | % change* from same period for 2007/08 | April 1 2007 - February 27 2008 | |
TOTAL | 343,100 | 110 | 163,300 | |
Ayrshire & Arran | 28,800 | 105 | 14,000 | |
Borders | 8,000 | 106 | 3,900 | |
Dumfries & Galloway | 10,000 | 91 | 5,300 | |
Fife | 23,900 | 112 | 11,300 | |
Forth Valley | 22,200 | 105 | 10,800 | |
Grampian | 35,900 | 109 | 17,100 | |
Glasgow | 73,300 | 117 | 33,700 | |
Highland | 22,200 | 99 | 11,200 | |
Lanarkshire | 41,100 | 106 | 20,000 | |
Lothian | 47,300 | 125 | 21,000 | |
Orkney | 1,500 | 105 | 700 | |
Shetland | 1,900 | 62 | 1,200 | |
Tayside | 24,700 | 108 | 11,900 | |
Western Isles | 2,500 | 91 | 1,300 | |
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*The percentage change is based on the precise data whilst the sales figures shown are rounded (to the nearest 100).