Are prescriptions free in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland?

Full answer

NHS prescription charges have diverged sharply across the four UK nations over the past two decades. Wales was first to abolish charges entirely, in April 2007, followed by Northern Ireland in April 2010 and Scotland in April 2011 -- in all three nations, every NHS prescription item is now free at the point of use for every resident, regardless of income or condition. England has not followed suit and remains the only UK nation charging for most prescriptions, with the per-item charge reviewed most years (frozen or increased periodically by the Department of Health and Social Care). However, a large share of prescriptions in England are still dispensed free of charge because of extensive exemptions: everyone under 16 or in full-time education under 19, everyone 60 or over, pregnant women and those who have given birth in the past 12 months (with a maternity exemption certificate), people with certain medical conditions covered by a medical exemption certificate, and people on low incomes receiving Universal Credit, Income Support, income-based JSA or ESA, or Pension Credit Guarantee Credit. People in England who need multiple regular prescriptions but do not qualify for a free exemption can save money with a Prescription Prepayment Certificate, covering all prescriptions for a fixed 3-month or 12-month fee regardless of how many items are needed.

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