Major breakthrough on prescription charges in Scotland

Thousands of people with arthritis in Scotland will benefit from a second annual reduction in prescription charges.

The Scottish Government has reduced the cost of a single prescription item from £5 to £4 and the cost of a Prescription Pre-payment Certificate (PPC) from £48 to £38 for 12 months and £17 to £13 for four months. 

It plans to reduce charges again next year and then abolish them completely in April 2011.

The move which came into effect on April 1 2009 will make a significant saving for people who are likely to need large or regular amounts of prescription items throughout the year.

Following the initial cost reductions last year, the number of people who bought PPCs between April and September 2008 more than doubled compared to the previous year.

It is estimated that nearly two thirds of all paid-for prescriptions are for people with long term conditions. Some of the long-term conditions which these changes will benefit include arthritis, asthma, cystic fibrosis, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, psoriasis and heart disease.

Audrey Birt, Chair of the Long Term Conditions Alliance, said: “I welcome the Scottish Government’s further reductions to the cost of prescription charges and the difference this will again make to the two million people in Scotland who live with long term conditions.

"It is particularly important for people with long-term conditions to be aware of Prescription Pre-payment Certificates and the savings to be made by using these, instead of paying for individual prescriptions.

“These reductions and the steps towards abolition of the prescription charges will help alleviate the significant financial burden of living with a long term condition.”

For more information about changes to the cost of prescription charges or a PPC, speak to your community pharmacist or visit Information for Scotland