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Cut in prescription costs on the cards
03/02/2010
Scots will move a step closer to free prescriptions today, if the health committee approves the latest price reduction.
Regulations introduced to parliament recently, which require the committee's approval, will see prescription charges fall to £3 from April, ahead of full abolition next year.
Around 600,000 adults in households with an income of less than £16,000 are benefiting from the reductions, with prescriptions also more affordable for many more on modest incomes.
Since the first reduction in charges in 2008, sales of Prescription Pre-payment Certificates, bought by people who need a number of medicines over a period of months, have increased by more than 150 per cent. In the first six months of this financial year, 236,000 were dispensed, compared to 93,000 in the same period of 2007-08.
Speaking ahead of her appearance at the Health and Sport Committee, Public Health Minister Shona Robison said:
"We're committed to scrapping prescription charges and removing this tax on ill-health, which hits those on low incomes hardest. We want our national health service to be restored to its founding principles - free at the point of delivery and based on clinical need, not ability to pay.
"We've already made huge progress - reducing charges from 6.85 pounds in April 2008 to £3 from April, with parliamentary approval - and next year will move to abolish this arbitrary tax altogether.
"With Scotland's record of ill-health and our appalling health inequalities, it's vital that we do all we can to help people get the health help they need - not put further financial hurdles in their way."
The regulations to further reduce prescription charges from 4 pounds to 3 pounds, which will also see four-month and twelve-month pre-payment certificates fall from £13 and £38 to £10 and £28 respectively, were introduced to parliament on January 6. Under parliamentary rules, the regulations must remain in parliament for 40 days, during which time any MSP can lodge a motion suggesting the proposals are rejected by parliament.