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| Free prescriptions 'waste' claim | Free prescriptions 'waste' claim |
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| Drug companies have warned that free prescriptions for all patients in Wales could lead to drugs going to waste and funding for new medicines being lost. | Drug companies have warned that free prescriptions for all patients in Wales could lead to drugs going to waste and funding for new medicines being lost. |
| The Welsh Assembly Government says the scheme costing £29.5m in the first year will reduce patient inequality. | The Welsh Assembly Government says the scheme costing £29.5m in the first year will reduce patient inequality. |
| But the drugs industry says costs could spiral because patients will not take as much care with their medicines. | But the drugs industry says costs could spiral because patients will not take as much care with their medicines. |
| If the proposal is approved by assembly members on Tuesday, it means all prescriptions will be free by April. | |
| Last year the price of prescriptions in Wales dropped from £4 to £3, while it rose to £6.65 in England. | Last year the price of prescriptions in Wales dropped from £4 to £3, while it rose to £6.65 in England. |
| Increasing demand on the medicines budget will mean newer, more innovative medicines will be even more difficult to access Richard Greville, Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry | Increasing demand on the medicines budget will mean newer, more innovative medicines will be even more difficult to access Richard Greville, Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry |
| Carmarthen GP Ruth Williams said free prescriptions would be good for people with chronic illnesses. | Carmarthen GP Ruth Williams said free prescriptions would be good for people with chronic illnesses. |
| "It can cost quite a lot of money if you're on five or six drugs, so obviously they'd be at an advantage and maybe more likely to take their drugs as they should," she explained. | "It can cost quite a lot of money if you're on five or six drugs, so obviously they'd be at an advantage and maybe more likely to take their drugs as they should," she explained. |
| The assembly government said the policy would cost less than 5% of the annual prescribed drugs budget in the first year. | The assembly government said the policy would cost less than 5% of the annual prescribed drugs budget in the first year. |
| Many patients in Wales already qualify for free prescriptions, largely because of their age or income, or their medical condition. | Many patients in Wales already qualify for free prescriptions, largely because of their age or income, or their medical condition. |
| 'Innovative medicines' | 'Innovative medicines' |
| But the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) said that if free prescriptions were introduced, demand for medicines may increase. | But the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) said that if free prescriptions were introduced, demand for medicines may increase. |
| It also warned that there was a risk of drugs going to waste. | It also warned that there was a risk of drugs going to waste. |
| Director Richard Greville said: "Increasing demand on the medicines budget will mean newer, more innovative medicines will be even more difficult to access for patients in Wales. | Director Richard Greville said: "Increasing demand on the medicines budget will mean newer, more innovative medicines will be even more difficult to access for patients in Wales. |
| "We do hope that the government will ensure that there'll be appropriate funding for this new policy," he added. | "We do hope that the government will ensure that there'll be appropriate funding for this new policy," he added. |