Prescription charges reduced to £3 from January

Prescriptions will cost only £3 per item from 1 January 2009, Health Minister Michael McGimpsey reminded the public today.

The reduction in charges will last until April 2010, when free prescriptions for everyone will be introduced in Northern Ireland. Prepayment certificates are also coming down in price, from £35.85 to £9 for a four month certificate and from £98.70 to £25 for a 12 month certificate.

The Minister said: “In September I announced that prescription charges will be abolished in Northern Ireland from 1 April 2010. This will bring an end to the inequitable system which ranked one person’s suffering above another’s.

“Reducing the charge to £3 is the beginning of the process towards abolition of prescription charges. The reduction in the cost of prepayment certificates will make a real difference for those people who need to buy medication on a regular basis.

“The introduction of free prescriptions in April 2010 will bring great comfort to thousands of people who suffer from ill-health and do not need the added anxiety of trying to find the money to pay for vital medication. It is also totally against the principles of the NHS which promises free health services to all.

“The cost of prescription charging will be met from within the existing budgets. No existing services will suffer as a result of this decision. I will be putting processes in place to ensure that prescribing rates are kept within acceptable limits. Healthcare professionals must practise responsible prescribing and the public must play a part by only taking medication if they really need it.”

Notes to Editors:

1. In 2006/07 there were over 16million prescription forms issued to patients which resulted in almost 30million prescription items being dispensed. This equates to an average of 17 prescription items per person.

2. Currently the prescription charge is £6.85 for each item dispensed. In April 2008 the Minister decided to freeze prescription charges at the previous year’s price whilst he decided on the way forward.

3. There are exemptions from prescription charges which come under a number of different categories, the main ones are:

• Age
• Medical condition
• Income
• Maternity certificates
• Contraceptives

4. A cost and benefit review group was established following an Assembly debate on prescription charging last May. The review group included pharmacists, doctors and, most importantly, patient representatives.

5. The evidence and findings from the situations in other parts of the UK helped to inform the DHSSPS review. In Wales, prescription charges were abolished in April last year while the Scottish Executive has decided to introduce a phased abolition of prescription charges so that by 2011, there will be no charges for prescriptions. England also recently announced it will be abolishing prescription charges for cancer patients from next year.

6. Currently, the income from prescription charges amounts to around £13million each year. That must be set in relief against the £360million that is spent on medicines prescribed by GPs. Of that £360million, only a small proportion, around 3·5%, is recovered.

7. Additionally, each year, hospital consultants prescribe approximately £100million worth of drugs, all of which are free to patients.

8. Media queries to Clare Baxter, DHSSPS Press Office on 028 9052 0636 or mobile 07919 400248. Out of office hours please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 076 9971 5440 and your call will be returned.