Free prescriptions launched in Wales
Prices have gone up elsewhere in the UK
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Sunday, 01, Apr 2007 08:49
More than three million people registered at GPs in Wales will no longer be required to pay for prescriptions from today onwards.
But at the same time as the principality becomes the first constituent part of the UK to scrap prescription charges, costs elsewhere in the country have risen by 20p.
Patients in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland can now expect to pay £6.85 for their prescriptions.
Prices in Wales were frozen at £6 in 2001 and assembly members voted to gradually reduce them until completely doing away with them.
Welsh first minister Rhodri Morgan, commenting on the removal of prescription fees, said that he was pleased to have fulfilled a Labour party manifesto pledge at the last assembly elections.
"Devolution enables Wales to come up with Welsh solutions to Welsh circumstances," he said.
"Wales, due to its industrial past, has a legacy of ill-health, especially of chronic conditions."
A Department of Health spokesperson today said there were "no plans" to abolish prescription charges elsewhere in Britain.
It is expected that the scrapping of fees in Wales will cost the government almost £30 million.