End Of Prescription Fees For NI

Prescription charges will be scrapped in Northern Ireland within the next 18 months, the regional Health Minister has announced.

From January 2009 Ulster people will only pay £3 per prescription, followed by the total abolition of fees in April 2010.

A similar move was taken in Wales last year, with Scotland also expected to end charges.

England will remain the only country where patients must pay for prescriptions; despite an announcement by Prime Minister Gordon Brown, last week, that these fees will be removed - a move that is limited to cancer sufferers.

Devolved NI Health Minister Michael McGimpsey said prepayment certificates would also come down in price, from £35.85 to £9 for four months and from £98.70 to £25 for 12 months until prescriptions are free.

Speaking at Belfast City Hospital's Cancer Centre, Mr McGimpsey said: "The introduction of free prescriptions was one of my party's manifesto commitments and was also one of my earliest assembly debates."

The Ulster Unionist MLA undertook a cost and benefit review into the ending of charges last year.

"I have now considered the findings of the review and today am announcing my intention to introduce free prescriptions in Northern Ireland, subject to the agreement of the Executive," he said.

According to Mr McGimpsey, the department "carefully considered the consequences of any change to the current charging regime in Northern Ireland" before making the decision.

"A key consideration for me was the loss of around £13m income each year from prescription charges, and while it is only 3.5% of the total drugs bill, it is still a lot of money,

"After looking closely at the financial position with my officials, I have concluded that the cost of free prescriptions can be found within my existing budget and without impacting on any existing service," added the Minister.

Sinn Féin Health spokesperson Michelle O'Neill said the Minister's announcement will go someway to address inequalities experienced by those on a low incomes.

"As we stand many people on low incomes, including cancer sufferers, were forced to choose between what medicines they could actually afford to get on prescription.

"The move to abolish charges will go some way to addressing health inequalities bringing everybody to the same level and ensuring that it not only a case of those who can pay getting full treatment," added Ms O'Neill.

Dr Brian Dunn, Chair of the Northern Ireland branch of the British Medical Association (BMA), has also welcomed the news.

"This is a very positive step forward and all those patients who have found it very hard over the years to pay for their medication will welcome it - as does the BMA," Dr Dunn told the BBC.

Macmillan Cancer Support's Heather Monteverde said: "Cancer patients in Northern Ireland have been struggling to pay these unfair charges for too long and it is fantastic news that the 55,000 people living with cancer here, along with other people who require medication, will no longer face this added burden."

(PR)