Scottish prescriptions cut to £5

The cost of NHS prescriptions in Scotland has been cut by almost £2. The reduction, from £6.85 to £5, is the first of several price drops, which will result in free prescriptions for all in 2011.

Last December, the Scottish Government announced it would set aside £97m to abolish prescription charges.

Once the charges have gone, the policy is expected to cost £57m a year. More than 90% of prescriptions are already dispensed for free.

In December, Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon told MSPs the prescription charges were a "tax on ill health".

Labour expressed reservations about the move.

There will be further £1 cuts for the next two years before the final abolition of the charge in Scotland. The SNP manifesto at last year's Scottish Parliament elections promised to "immediately abolish" prescription charges for people with chronic conditions, cancer and for those in full-time education or training.

The cost of pre-payment certificates will also be cut over the same timescale as prescription charges, coming down at first from £98.70 to £48, then down to £38 and finally £28, before they are ended. Under current exemption rules, about half the population qualifies for free prescriptions and about 92% of items dispensed in Scotland are given to patients free of charge.

Ms Sturgeon said: "That this is all taking place less than a year after the new Scottish Government came to power underlines the fast pace of delivery and the fact that this is a government of action."