AN estimated 47,000 people in Angus will benefit from reduced prescription charges when they are introduced by the Scottish Government tomorrow (Tuesday).
The cost of a single prescription item has been lowered from £6.85 to £5 and the cost of a Prescription Pre-payment Certificate (PPC) is 51% cheaper.
The announcement by Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing Nicola Sturgeon is the first of fu
rther annual reductions planned to abolish charges altogether by April 1, 2011.
The move will make a significant saving for people who are likely to need large or regular amounts of prescription items throughout the year.
Announcing the introduction of the reduced prescription charges on April 1, the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing said: "This Government is committed to building a healthier nation through removing the barriers to ill health and reducing prescription charges is a significant step towards achieving this.
"In particular, the substantial reduction we have announced to the cost of a PPC will make a huge difference to removing the burden for those for people with chronic or long-term conditions or who require regular prescriptions," she added.
People may find it cheaper to buy a PPC if they need more than three prescription items in a four-month period or more than nine prescription items in 12 months.
The cost of a PPC has been lowered from £98.70 to £48 for a 12-month period and from £35.85 to £17 for a four-month period.
It is estimated that nearly two thirds (63 per cent) of all paid-for prescriptions are for cancer and long-term conditions which include asthma, Cystic Fibrosis, Parkinson's Disease, Multiple Sclerosis, Psoriasis and heart disease.
The reduced charges will mean that everyone who pays for prescriptions will now pay less.
For more information about changes to the cost of prescription charges or a PPC, speak to your community pharmacist or visit www.infoscotland.com/prescriptions
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