Fact Service March 2011

Issue 9

NHS prescriptions to be free in Scotland

The Scottish Parliament’s Health Committee has passed the legislation that will result in prescriptions for all patients in Scotland being free from 1 April.

The move was agreed after a last-ditch attempt by the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats to retain the charges. Tory MSP Mary Scanlon put forward a motion to keep the charges but, despite support from Liberal Democrat MSP Ross Finnie, the committee agreed to scrap them.

Since 2007, the cost of a single item has become progressively cheaper. In 2007, a single item prescription cost £6.85. This was lowered to £5 in 2008-09; £4 in 2009-10; £3 in 2010-11 and will be now free from April.

Wales and Northern Ireland have already removed NHS prescription charges, which leaves only England, where the charge is £7.20 an item at present.

www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2011/03/02132700

www.scotsman.com/news/Prescription-charges-to-be-abolished.6727251.jp