Central Scotland SNP MSP Christina McKelvie was joined last week (Friday 3 April) by Hamilton East and Earnock SNP councillor Graeme Horne on a visit to Lloyds Pharmacy in Livingstone Boulevard, Hamilton to highlight the latest cut in prescription charges in Scotland. From 1 April, prescription charges fell from £5 to £4 for a single prescription, £17 to £13 for a 4 month pre-payment certificate and £48 to £38 for a 12 month pre-payment certificate. The cost of pre-payment certificates has been slashed by more than half since 2007.

Ms McKelvie welcomed the latest reduction, which is part of the SNP Scottish Government’s policy of phased abolition of all prescription charges by 2011, saying:

“Patients across Lanarkshire have already benefited from the SNP’s phased abolition of prescription charges and this latest reduction will be another big help to all those who need medication, especially in these tough economic times. The enormous increase in people taking out pre-payment certificates since the reduction in charges began shows that this policy is genuinely benefiting people’s health as barriers to affording medication are removed. This is particularly crucial in many parts of Lanarkshire, where there are high numbers of people living with chronic illness.”

“The final abolition of prescription charges in 2011 will not only restore to Scotland’s NHS its founding principle of healthcare free at the point of access but also provide genuine improvements in health for those who need it most.”