Should NHS prescriptions be free?

We're so damn lucky in this country...I think we forget that sometimes.

In America, people have to sell their own homes sometimes to pay for life-saving treatment.

I dunno if I'm a lone voice, but I don't really mind paying for my prescriptions. Although I do think that those who are on long, long medication courses should be given a break, if they're not already.

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I'm a Scot living in England and I'm fed up with people having a go at me for Scottish people getting free prescriptions. If they want to blame anyone, then blame the Government not the people.

I think if Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have free prescriptions then so should England - it's only fair.

Personally I don't think prescriptions should be free anywhere. I think pensioners, children and people on a low income should get help, and maybe they could look at long term prescriptions as well. I don't mind paying for my prescriptions, but I would like to see the money put to good use to clean up the hospitals.

I also think the "postcode lottery" of medications is wrong and that system has to also be looked at.

I have recently stopped paying for my prescriptions as I'm now 60. I can't tell you what a relief it is not having to pay. I remember when they were 20 pence per item and now it's over £7 per item. However with immigration at its current rate we cannot have free prescriptions for all. We just can't afford it. Did you know our government is borrowing £400 million per day? It sounds ridiculous-but check the facts. You'll soon see that very soon the UK will have no money and no credit given. When that happens then God help us.

Yes, I think so, although there is a lot of waste. I know many patients who come in pick and choose their medications because of the cost. Pharmacists should, by the way, advise you if you can buy a cheaper product over the counter.

Again, some medicines cost an awful lot - Viagra is very expensive, for example.

At the moment, those above 60 are free, as are patients on benefits, children, pregnant women and contraception, as well as certain medical conditions like diabetes.

Patients who can claim free prescriptions do so and often, very wastefully. One diabetic I know is checking his glucose levels 20 times a day and the doctors are actually prescribing for him, even though he is clearly obsessive. He must cost the NHS a fortune!

Also, if you are on a lot of medication, you get a prescription pre-payment certificate, which allows you all your medicines for three months (or one year) for a basic rate of under £30.

It's a minefield. I don't mind paying, but I do object to people who get their paracetemol, etc on the NHS. While I have to pay for my asthma pumps!

I think its very poor that the minister for health is trying to justify the charge as a way to gather revenue...from sick people. I was always under the impression that the NHS was supposed to be free at the point of delivery.

I understand they need to get the money from somewhere but perhaps if they didn't spend £11 Billion on an IT database that didn't work, they might have more financial options

They should be free. At the moment there are loopholes that mean some people who have no income still have to pay for them.

Having to pay for drugs creates a situation in which some people are not taking medicine that they need because they can't afford them.

It should at the very least be a very minimum charge of £1 per item.

If they are free in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland then we should not be the only country that has to pay. Maybe they could just charge something like £1.50 or £2.00. At least the Government would get something back. I think £7.10 is too much.

You are misinformed - prescriptions are FREE OF CHARGE only in Wales - since April 1st 2007

http://www.wales.nhs.uk/page.cfm?pid=9586

Scots dont get FREE prescriptions yet (except for the elderly, unemployed, long-term sick etc) - Prescription charges in Scotland are being reduced over the next few years and will be FREE from April 2011

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2007/12/0...

Northern Ireland don't have free prescriptions either. They reduced the charge per prescription to £3 in January 2009 and will be making them free of charge by April 2010.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/764163...

To answer your question - I don't think prescriptions should necessarily be free for all in any of the UK countries, except for the chronically sick, children, the elderly and the unemployed. (If I've left any deserving group out, I apologise in advance). I think everyone else should pay a token charge.

Thes days, if you're on Income-based Job-Seeker's Allowance you are entitled to a free eye test and a voucher towards the cost of glasses; the value of this voucher depends on your prescription. It is unlikely to cover the whole cost. The optician will tell you more.

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