Tories call for end to to free NHS medicines

A NEW call has been made to end universal free prescriptions in the wake of figures showing more items are dispensed in Wales per head of population than in any other UK nation.

The latest findings show that over-thecounter products such as Bonjela continue to be dispensed in Wales.

Welsh Conservative leader Andrew RT Davies said the NHS could not afford to be “dishing out free paracetamol to millionaires”.

Wales dispensed 25.8 prescription items per head of population, compared with 22.3 in Northern Ireland, 20 in England and 19.2 in Scotland.

The cost of prescribed items soared from £410.4m in 2000 to £578.1m last year.

The Welsh Government defended its free prescription policy, introduced in 2007, which saw 80.4 million items dispensed in the community in 2017 – up from 43.7 million items in 2000.

It said the “growth in prescribing of over-thecounter medicines has been slower in Wales than in England, where there is “a system of illogical and unfair prescription charges”.

Prescription charges were abandoned in Wales on April 1, 2007 but the Welsh Government states on its website that “where you previously bought non-prescription medication over the counter, without the need to see your GP, you should continue to do so”.

The Conservatives’ Mr Davies is pushing for an end to universal free prescriptions.

He said: “This is another reality check for the Labour Welsh Government.

“We must remember there is no such thing as a ‘free prescription’ and Labour’s policy is costing Welsh taxpayers and the NHS.”

The Welsh Government argues that it took the decision to abolish the charges because evidence showed some people with serious chronic conditions could not afford to collect their prescription.