Free prescriptions counter inequality

The decision to abolish prescription charges in Scotland will reduce health inequalities, according to the RCN

From next year, the cost of a prescription in Scotland will fall from £6.85 to £5. After that, it will fall by £1 each year for the following two years, before being scrapped altogether in 2011. Under a similar scheme, those patients who have long-term conditions and are in possession of prescription pre-payment certificates will be eligible for a 50% reduction in April.
The decision, which was announced by the Scottish Government last week, will eventually bring Scotland in line with Wales, which implemented free prescriptions in April of this year.
RCN Scotland director Theresa Fyffe whole-heartedly backed the changes by saying: 'We believe this announcement could help address health inequalities and reinforces the core principle on which the NHS is built.'