Northern Ireland begins prescription price cuts
This article was originally published in Scrip
Executive Summary
Prescription charges (patient co-payments) in Northern Ireland have fallen to £3 per item, effective from January 1st. The price marks a drop from the previous £6.85 charge per item, and is accompanied by a reduction in the price of prepayment certificates, from £35.85 to £9 for a four-month certificate, and from £98.70 to £25 for a 12-month certificate. The reduction marks the start of charge decreases which will last until April 2010, after which prescriptions in Northern Ireland will be free.