BREAKING NEWS:
On 29th September The Northern Ireland Health Minister announced plans to abolish prescription charges. From January 2009 cost of prescriptions in Northern Ireland will be reduced to £3 per prescription and will be free of charge by April 2010.
This is the latest development for the prescription charges campaign which a week earlier saw Gordon Brown announce that from 2009 people with cancer will not pay prescriptions charges in England. Ciaran Devane, Macmillan Cancer Support's chief executive responded:
"We are absolutely delighted the Government has listened to us. Cancer patients in England have been struggling to pay these unfair charges for too long and it is great news that they will no longer face this added burden when they are fighting cancer."
"This must now be implemented quickly and clearly by the Government."
The general public and supporters of Macmillan made an amazing contribution as campaigners, which has made a real difference in helping to bring about this change. If you want to get involved in our campaigns sign up here.
We are waiting to see the detail of these latest announcements and we will continue to work with the governments to see that the changes are implemented quickly and clearly. The Department of Health have issued a Q&A on the changes to the prescriptions charging system in England, which you can read here.
Get involved and make a difference
We would like to say a big thank you and congratulations to all our e-campaigners who helped us with the success of our recent prescription charges campaign. This is an excellent example of how together we can make a big difference for everyone affected by cancer. Congratulations to everyone involved!
"It was the most wonderful news to hear that after all our campaigning for free prescriptions, the government listened. I've been going without some of my medications because I couldn't afford them all. This news is such a relief and next year the huge financial burden and worry will be lifted." Fiona, an e-campaigner and Cancer Voice
To become an e-campaigner for Macmillan join our email list.
Or find out what else we are doing and become a Cancer Voice.
Campaigning on prescriptions across the UK
No one should be in the position where they can't afford the treatment prescribed by their doctor or health professional.
Our campaign led to the abolition of prescription charges in Wales in April 2007. Scotland is phasing them out by April 2011. The latest announcements in Northern Ireland and England mean that cancer patients across the UK will no longer have to bear the burden of paying for presciption charges.
If you are a cancer patient and have had difficulty paying for your prescriptions please contact campaigns@macmillan.org.uk
Find further information on getting financial support for health costs here.