On the day before prescription charges in England increase to £8.40 the SNP highlighted the impact Tory plans to reintroduce prescription charges would have in Scotland.
A re-elected SNP Government will keep prescriptions free for everyone who needs them.
Tory leader Ruth Davidson confirmed yesterday that she would tax people for being ill by introducing a prescription charge of £8.40 in Scotland. The Tories confirmed they'd return to the old system of charges where two million people with long-term conditions, and people managing or recovering from Cancer, could have to pay for their prescriptions.
Before the SNP abolished charges around 600,000 adults living in families with an annual income of less than £16,000 could have been liable for prescription charges.
And in contrast to Tory claims – the number of prescriptions has increased by more in England where there are charges, than in Scotland where free prescriptions help people manage their health care.
Commenting, SNP Health Secretary Shona Robison said:
“It’s bad enough applying charges to people who fall ill for a short while, but to tax those with long term conditions for their illness is simply wrong.
“At the very time when they should be able to rely on the support of their government, Ruth Davidson wants to penalise them by taxing their ill-health.
“The Tory plans mean two million people with long term conditions such as Parkinson’s disease, Crohn’s disease, Asthma, MS, Arthritis, Alzheimer’s, and many more conditions, could be forced to pay for their prescriptions.
“Prior to the abolition of charges even Cancer patients had to pay for prescriptions that helped them manage their illness, is Ruth Davidson planning to add insult to injury by taxing cancer sufferers for being ill?
“The SNP will maintain free prescriptions, protect our NHS and provide the healthcare and support that people need.”
