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# No prescription charges outside England from 2011
- URL: https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/no-prescription-charges-outside-england-from-2011/
- Published: 2008-09-29T13:09:19.000Z
- Updated: 2019-02-14T22:41:45.000Z
- Author: Tom Griffin
- Tags: #en, #Migrated, #Import 2026-04-09 18:49

**Tom Griffin (London,** [**OK**](https://www.opendemocracy.net/ourkingdom)**):** Northern Ireland is to abolish prescription charges from 2010, Health Minister Michael McGimpsey of the UUP [announced today](http://www.publicservice.co.uk/news%5Fstory.asp?id=7211&ref=opendemocracy.net). The move will follow a reduction to £3 in January 2009.

*"The introduction of free prescriptions was one of my party's manifesto commitments and was also one of my earliest assembly debates. A key consideration for me was the loss of around £13m income each year from prescription charges, and while it is only 3.5 per cent of the total drugs bill, it is still a lot of money."* 
  
*He added: "After looking closely at the financial position with my officials, I have concluded that the cost of free prescriptions can be found within my existing budget and without impacting on any existing service."*

Wales has already abolished prescription charges, and Scotland is set to follow suit in 2011\. Although Gordon Brown announced moves to [abolish charges for cancer patients](http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/prescription-charges-to-be-axed-for-cancer-patients-939785.html?ref=opendemocracy.net) last week, England is now the only UK nation in whch there are no plans to abolish prescription charges outright.