PRESCRIPTION CHARGES IN ENGLAND

Early day motion 2102, tabled 21 July 2008 by Bob Spink (UKIP). Signed by 9 members.

That this House notes the different prescription charging policies in UK countries; notes also that the NHS could save millions if more generic drugs were prescribed where appropriate; futher notes that the Office of Fair Trading report on the Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme identified potential savings of £500 million from just a limited range of drug categories; further notes that paid for prescriptions raise only £430 million; further notes that people in England often cannot take the drugs they are prescribed, leading to health complications and further costs to the NHS; further notes that the National Audit Office estimated drug wastage in the NHS to amount to more than £100 million; and therefore calls on the Government to adopt UKIP policy of free prescriptions across the UK and to fund this by greater use of generic drugs and less wastage.

Signatures by party: Labour 6, Liberal Democrat 2, UKIP 1.