TAX ON ILL HEALTH ON WAY OUT WITH SNP

TAX ON ILL HEALTH ON WAY OUT WITH SNP

MSP WELCOMES REDUCTION OF PRESCRIPTION CHARGES TO £3

Prescription charges for patients throughout Scotland will fall from £4 to £3 in April after the Health Committee approved the latest price reduction today at the Scottish Parliament’s Health Committee. Next year it is expected that they will be totally abolished.

Welcoming the move former GP and MSP for the Lothians, Ian McKee, said:

"In these tough economic times reducing prescription charges will particularly help many people who need medicines but find it difficult to afford them.

"The SNP is bringing down the cost of prescription drugs and we will see this tax on ill health abolished next year. This progressive move contrasts strongly with the situation south of the border where Labour is in power.

“Prescription charges are just as unpopular as the poll tax and, as a former doctor, I firmly believe they should be free at the point of use and reflect the principles of the NHS.

“Throughout my years as a GP in Wester Hailes I witnessed situations where patients couldn’t afford prescriptions and therefore were unable to receive treatment.

“The unemployed, families on low incomes, single parents, disabled people with expensive medication – these are all groups in society severely disadvantaged by prescription charges.

“I’m glad that constituents across the Lothians and indeed patients across Scotland are already benefiting from a reduction in prescription charges.”