Presription Charges Reduced Further
The cost of prescription charges in Scotland has been further reduced as part of moves by the Scottish Government to abolish these altogether in April 2011.
The cost of a single prescription has fallen from £5 to £4 and the cost of Prescription Pre-payment Certificates (PPCs) has been lowered from £48 to £38 for 12 months and £17 to £13 for four months.
This is the second consecutive year prescription charges in Scotland have been cut which will benefit hundreds of thousands of people across the country.
The immediate reduction, which became effective from April 1 2009, is another major step towards the phased abolition of prescription charges.
It is estimated nearly two thirds of all paid-for prescriptions are for long-term conditions such as asthma, arthritis, cancer, Parkinson’s Disease, Multiple Sclerosis and heart disease.
Linda Logan, who has rheumatoid arthritis, Sjogrens syndrome (an autoimmune disease) and osteoporosis, is one of thousands of patients with long-term conditions who has benefited from the falling costs.
She said: "I was really pleased when the cost of the Prescription Pre-payment Certificates was halved last year. Now that the cost is coming down again, I’ll have a bit more money in my pocket, which can only be a good thing at a time when people are having to tighten their belts."
If people who pay for their prescriptions are likely to need large or regular amounts of prescription items throughout the year, they can save money by buying a Prescription Pre-payment Certificate.
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.
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."
For more information about changes to the cost of prescription charges or a PPC, speak to your local pharmacist or your GP or visit www.infoscotland.com/prescriptions
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