Health Minister Jim Wells wants to bring back prescription charges to pay for specialist drugs
DUP Health Minister Jim Wells wants to bring back prescription charges to pay for new specialist and costly drugs.
He has told the Assembly this morning that his proposal – to include charging fees and possible exemptions – will be put out for a three month consultation.
The specialist drugs fund would pay for drugs that are either too expensive or too specific to be licensed for use at the moment.
Mr Wells assured the Assembly this morning that the process would be “transparent”.
But Derry Sinn Fein MLA Maeve McLaughlin – who is chair of Stormont’s Health Committee – asked for the cost of waste within the department of health before asking how much people are going to be expected to pay for prescriptions.
The Department of Health abolished prescription charges for the North in 2010.
However, despite its popularity with the public, it has left a massive hole in the Department’s budget.
Under the proposals there would be a level of charges: 30p, 50p or £1.
There is also a proposal for a ‘season ticket’ for £20-£25 a year.
