Prescription Charges
From the 1st of April the cost of a single prescription item will be lowered from £6.85 to £5 and the cost of Prescription Pre-payment Certificates (PPC) will reduce by 51%
The reduced charges will benefit everyone who pays for prescriptions but especially people who buy large or regular amounts of prescriptions. This includes cancer patients or people with long term conditions such as asthma, cystic fibrosis, Parkinson's Disease, multiple sclerosis or psoriasis.
Many people with these conditions need several different medications at once, which can be a significant financial burden on top of the physical and emotional affects of their illness.
Anyone who buys prescriptions regularly or needs several items at once, can save significantly by buying a Prescription Pre-payment Certificate (PPC).
A PPC allows you to pay a set fee to cover all your prescriptions over a four-month or 12-month period and the cost has been lowered from £98.70 to £48 for 12 months and from £35.85 to £17 for four months.
People may find it cheaper to buy a PPC if they need more than three prescription items in a four-month period, or more than nine prescription items in 12 months.
Questions and Answers
How much will a prescription now cost me?
A single prescription item will now cost £5 (instead of £6.85).
What if I don't pay for prescriptions?
If you already get free prescriptions, for example if you're over 60, you will continue to do so.
Who will benefit from the reduced prescription charges?
Everyone in Scotland who pays for prescriptions will now pay less. People who require large or regular amounts of prescription items will benefit most. This includes people with cancer and long-term conditions such as asthma, Cystic Fibrosis and Multiple Sclerosis.
What is a Prescription Pre-payment Certificate?
A Prescription Pre-payment Certificate (PPC) allows you to pay a set fee to cover all your prescriptions over a four-month or 12-month period. If you buy prescriptions regularly or need a lot of prescriptions at once, a PPC can be significantly cheaper than paying for individual prescriptions.
Who can get a PPC?
Anyone can purchase a PPC. It is likely to save you money if you need more than three prescription items in a four-month period or more than nine prescription items in 12 months.
How much do PPCs cost?
The cost of a Prescription Pre-payment Certificate for a 12 month period will be reduced from £98.70 to £48 (saving 51 per cent)
The cost of a Prescription Pre-payment Certificate for a four-month period will be reduced from £35.85 to £17 (saving 51 per cent)
Where can I buy a Prescription Pre-payment Certificate (PPC)?
PPCs are available over the counter from your local community pharmacist or dispensing doctor. You can also order a
PPC through the post from the Practitioner Services Division (PSD) at NHS National Services Scotland. For more
information see www.psd.scot.nhs.co.uk
What if I purchased a PPC before the costs were reduced?
Your current PPC will remain valid until the expiry date shown on the certificate. If your PPC remains valid for one or more complete months after April 1st 2008, you are entitled to a refund and a claim form will be sent to you.
For more information about changes to the cost of prescription charges or a PPC, speak to your Community Pharmacist or visit www.infoscotland.com/prescriptions
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