Released 02 April 2009

Lower prescription charges in Scotland will help arthritis patients

Charges for prescription drugs have been further reduced in Scotland, making treatment less expensive for people with long-term conditions like arthritis.

The new rates for prescription medication are £4 for a single item, £13 for a four-month pre-payment certificate (PPC) and £38 for a 12-month PPC.

Nicola Sturgeon, the country's health secretary, said that the Scottish government "does not believe" that people with poor health or long-term medical conditions should be taxed.

"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," she added.

"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."

The latest reduction is part of a phasing-out process of the prescription charges, announced by the Scottish government in December 2007. Charges for prescription drugs in Scotland began being reduced in April last year and will be removed altogether by April 2011.

PPCs can be bought for either four or 12 months. Their function is to cover the cost of all medication in this period. Since the Scottish government began to lower prescription charges, their uptake has increased by 110 per cent.

A spokeswoman for the Arthritis Research Campaign welcomed the reduction of prescription charges in Scotland.

"People with chronic conditions such as arthritis, who need long-term medication but are continuing to work and therefore not eligible for free prescriptions, should not be penalised," she added.
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