
Medical prescriptions in England will now cost 7.40 pounds
per item from the existing 7.20 pounds. This Government announcement will come
into action from April 1, 2011. Dental charges are also expected to rise. Dental
charge for a check-up, will increase from 16.50 pounds to 17 pounds; while charge
for fillings and a root canal, will increase from 45.6 pounds to 47 pounds. Charges
for Dentures and bridges will increase by 198 pounds to 204 pounds.
Every year, the NHS makes over 450 million pounds because of
prescription charges. England
is the only part of UK still charging for prescriptions. Prescriptions are
free in Wales and Northern Ireland, and will be free in Scotland from April 1,
2011.
The British Medical Association (BMA) had called for a campaign to abolish prescription charges all together. This move will be a great blow for the BMA. Chairman of the BMA, Dr. Hamish Meldrum said, "The Government should be following the example of the other three nations in the UK to abolish prescription charges instead of increasing them."
Doctors and patients groups have reacted with fury in response to this move. They have warned these extra charges could cost lives for those who cannot afford their medication and called for the abolition of the prescription charges.
Source: Medindia
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