Prescription Charges Scrapped in Wales

[AB Asks]

Prescription charges have been scrapped in Wales, while the rest of the UK are to have to pay �6.85 for the privilege. As of April 1 Welsh people will no longer have to pay for their prescriptions, while prices in the rest of Britain will go up by 20p. The aim is to make prescriptions a level playing field for all patients regardless of income. However the scheme is likely to cost �29.5 million in the first year. Do you think that the scheme would be worth adopting in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland? Do you find the present cost too high?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/6513579.stm

[Gromit]

The Welsh Assembly Government (WAG) is now able to set it's own budgets and decide what to spent tax payers money on in Wales. The people in the rest of the UK will look on jealously, even murmuring 'that's not fair'. If the new system is a success in Wales and proves to be affordable, then I imagine the public will demand it in the rest of the UK.

Still doesn't address the biggest scandal in the NHS drug bill, overcharging by Pharmaceutical companies.

[jno]

then the money will have to come from somewhere else, or services will have to be cut. There's no such thing as a free drug.

[Octavius]

So, apart from Max Boyce and the occasional loan of the Millennium Stadium, what have the Welsh ever done for us?

[kwicky]

There is only one British NH system and funded by all taxpayers. Devolution has created a mess in how our services are run whether in health or education and we have our politicians to thank for this. If there is to be true accountability Welsh, N.Ireland and Scotland should have their own independent tax raising powers and budgets so they can have more responsible give-aways like the free prescriptions or free university education. I'm surprised the English population is not up in arms about these anomalies! When will it ever stop?

[THECORBYLOON]

It's folk living in Wales who no longer pay the prescription charge, not only Welsh folk. I wish the folk who write the questions for AB Asks would get the facts correct.