Kidney Care UK believe that everyone should be able to access the medication they need to stay well, without worrying about whether or not they can afford it.
Following an article published in The Times newspaper on 26 August 2024, Kidney Care UK asked the Scottish Government whether it is considering re-introducing prescription charges for medicines on the NHS to balance its budget deficit. Jenni Minto, Minister for Public Health and Women’s Health, in reply stated there are no plans to reintroduce prescription charges.
There is no plan to re-introduce prescription charges in Scotland. Prescription charges were abolished in April 2011 because Scottish Ministers believed that they were a tax on ill health and a barrier to good health for many people. This was particularly so for those with long-term conditions and those on a low income who in the past faced choices about which medicines they could afford. The introduction of free prescriptions has been fully funded by the Scottish Government, at no cost to NHS budgets.Jenni Minto, Minister for Public Health and Women’s Health.
Kidney Care UK is hopeful that the Minister’s statement will be reflected in the Scottish Government’s budget on 4 December and that prescription charges will not be re-introduced. We will continue to monitor this issue.
Prescription charges are currently applied in England. As members of the Prescription Charges Coalition, Kidney Care UK continues to campaign for them to be removed.