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| Staged end to prescription charge | Staged end to prescription charge |
| (41 minutes later) | |
| Scottish ministers have decided against immediately scrapping prescription charges for the chronically ill. | Scottish ministers have decided against immediately scrapping prescription charges for the chronically ill. |
| Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon instead announced a series of cuts in the charges, ahead of their planned abolition in 2011. | Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon instead announced a series of cuts in the charges, ahead of their planned abolition in 2011. |
| She told MSPs they were a "tax on ill health", while Labour has expressed reservations about the move. | She told MSPs they were a "tax on ill health", while Labour has expressed reservations about the move. |
| The cost of a single prescription is to be cut by more than 25% in 2008, followed by further yearly reductions. | The cost of a single prescription is to be cut by more than 25% in 2008, followed by further yearly reductions. |
| The SNP manifesto promised to "immediately abolish" prescription charges for people with chronic conditions, cancer and for those in full-time education or training. | The SNP manifesto promised to "immediately abolish" prescription charges for people with chronic conditions, cancer and for those in full-time education or training. |
| Ms Sturgeon said the cost of pre-payment certificates - which cover a person's prescription costs over a 12-month period - would be cut from almost £100 to under £50 from next April, to benefit people suffering from chronic and long-term conditions. | Ms Sturgeon said the cost of pre-payment certificates - which cover a person's prescription costs over a 12-month period - would be cut from almost £100 to under £50 from next April, to benefit people suffering from chronic and long-term conditions. |
| She said that compiling a list of conditions for instant exemption may have taken until 2009. | She said that compiling a list of conditions for instant exemption may have taken until 2009. |
| The problem is that many people with long-term conditions that are not already exempt from charges simply can't afford the right medication Nicola Sturgeon,Health secretary | The problem is that many people with long-term conditions that are not already exempt from charges simply can't afford the right medication Nicola Sturgeon,Health secretary |
| "This government believes that prescription charges are a tax on ill health," Ms Sturgeon told the Scottish Parliament. | "This government believes that prescription charges are a tax on ill health," Ms Sturgeon told the Scottish Parliament. |
| "We also believe they are a barrier to good health for too many people." | "We also believe they are a barrier to good health for too many people." |
| The health secretary said that more and more people were living with long-term conditions. | The health secretary said that more and more people were living with long-term conditions. |
| "Many of those long-term conditions can, with the right support and medication, be self-managed by patients in their own homes, enabling them to go on enjoying a good quality of life," she said. | "Many of those long-term conditions can, with the right support and medication, be self-managed by patients in their own homes, enabling them to go on enjoying a good quality of life," she said. |
| "The problem is that many people with long-term conditions that are not already exempt from charges simply can't afford the right medication." | "The problem is that many people with long-term conditions that are not already exempt from charges simply can't afford the right medication." |
| In April next year, the cost for a single prescription will be cut from £6.85 to £5 and will be further reduced by £1 in each of the two subsequent years before abolition, just before the next Holyrood election. | In April next year, the cost for a single prescription will be cut from £6.85 to £5 and will be further reduced by £1 in each of the two subsequent years before abolition, just before the next Holyrood election. |
| Cautious welcome | Cautious welcome |
| The cost of pre-payment certificates will also be cut over the same timescale, coming down at first from £98.70 to £48, then down to £38 and finally £28, before they are ended. | The cost of pre-payment certificates will also be cut over the same timescale, coming down at first from £98.70 to £48, then down to £38 and finally £28, before they are ended. |
| The move is similar to developments in Wales where prescription charges were gradually reduced from 2000 and abolished altogether this year. | The move is similar to developments in Wales where prescription charges were gradually reduced from 2000 and abolished altogether this year. |
| Last year, MSPs voted to keep prescription charges in Scotland, when the Labour/Liberal Democrat administration was still in power. | Last year, MSPs voted to keep prescription charges in Scotland, when the Labour/Liberal Democrat administration was still in power. |
| Katy Green, from Arthritis Care Scotland, gave the announcement a cautious welcome. | Katy Green, from Arthritis Care Scotland, gave the announcement a cautious welcome. |
| "It's good news in that people are going to have to pay less for pre-payment certificates but it does mean there will be a delay, because it will be phased in," she said. | "It's good news in that people are going to have to pay less for pre-payment certificates but it does mean there will be a delay, because it will be phased in," she said. |
| "Any prescription costs are not good - we know that people make choices about whether to take certain drugs for monetary reasons - so we had hoped for more from this announcement. | "Any prescription costs are not good - we know that people make choices about whether to take certain drugs for monetary reasons - so we had hoped for more from this announcement. |
| "But if we would have to wait two years to get a definition of chronic illnesses, I think we would prefer the reduction in the cost of pre-payment certificates." | "But if we would have to wait two years to get a definition of chronic illnesses, I think we would prefer the reduction in the cost of pre-payment certificates." |
| 'Health inequalities' | 'Health inequalities' |
| Ministers have set aside £97m over the next three years to phase out prescription charges. | Ministers have set aside £97m over the next three years to phase out prescription charges. |
| Once the charges have been abolished the policy is expected to cost £57m a year. | Once the charges have been abolished the policy is expected to cost £57m a year. |
| Labour's health spokeswoman, Margaret Curran, raised concerns that the cost of abolishing the charges would put pressure on the NHS. | Labour's health spokeswoman, Margaret Curran, raised concerns that the cost of abolishing the charges would put pressure on the NHS. |
| "Labour strongly believes that no-one in Scotland should be denied the medicines they need because they can't pay for them," she said. | "Labour strongly believes that no-one in Scotland should be denied the medicines they need because they can't pay for them," she said. |
| "However, the implications of a universal and free prescription system on vital NHS resources are vast. | "However, the implications of a universal and free prescription system on vital NHS resources are vast. |
| "We need assurances from the SNP that they have thought this through and are aware of the implications a free system would have on tackling health inequalities throughout Scotland." | "We need assurances from the SNP that they have thought this through and are aware of the implications a free system would have on tackling health inequalities throughout Scotland." |
| The Liberal Democrats welcomed the decision while the Tories asked for assurances that the new policy would not increase drugs wastage within the NHS. | |
| Under current exemption rules, about half the population qualifies for free prescriptions and about 92% of items dispensed in Scotland are given to patients free of charge. | Under current exemption rules, about half the population qualifies for free prescriptions and about 92% of items dispensed in Scotland are given to patients free of charge. |