Prescription charges to be phased out in Wales 

02 October 2003, Welsh Government

Proposals for the phasing out of prescription charges with everyone in Wales benefiting from free prescriptions by 2007 were outlined today by Health and Social Services Minister Jane Hutt today.
Under the proposals put to the National Assembly the change to free prescriptions will take place in phases with the first phase taking effect from 1st October, 2004 when there will be a reduction of £1 in the charge. Jane Hutt said: "Our pledge to provide free prescriptions for everyone in Wales will benefit the whole population and will help improve health in Wales. Evidence suggests that prescription charges do deter people from asking for National Health Service prescriptions and from having their prescription dispensed, either in part or in its entirety. Surveys done by the Citizens Advice Bureaux and the Office of Fair Trading have confirmed this. If patients cannot afford the medicines they need to treat their condition, the long-term costs to the NHS could be far greater in terms of avoidable hospital treatment. "Free prescriptions for all is the simplest and most effective way of resolving inequalities and inconsistencies in prescribing which have existed since the rules were established in 1968. To introduce exemptions to certain groups only would be complex to introduce and implement. Our proposals are straightforward and effective. This way everyone benefits, including the chronically ill. "The changes will be introduced in phases with free prescriptions being available in 2007. The first phase will be a reduction in the prescription charge of £1 from 1st October 2004. This will bring the charge for a prescription dispensed in Wales to £5, as opposed to £6.30 in England. The cost of an annual certificate will also be reduced to £71.83, which compares with £90.40 in England. "Patients will benefit from subsequent phased reductions and the free prescription if their medicines are prescribed by a prescriber contracted to a Welsh LHB, on a Welsh prescription form and dispensed by a Welsh pharmacist. "The medical profession has consistently opposed prescription charges in principle, regarding them as a tax on illness. They agree with our assessment that:
  • It is not practically possible, or equitable to rank chronic medical conditions in terms of clinical need for medication;
  • Exempting all chronic medical conditions is practically equivalent to abolishing prescription charges altogether.
"They support our way forward and are keen to see this reform tied to other measures, such as increased role for pharmacists to make the most of their skills and expertise. We have already, and will continue to consult the medical and pharmaceutical professions on the way ahead. "This is a policy unique to Wales which reaffirms our commitment to provide the best possible access to healthcare for everyone in the country and to reduce inequalities."
| News archive >