Prescription Charges Proposed

Northern Ireland's Health Minister has proposed re-introducing prescription charges in order to raise funds for the provision of specialist drugs.

Jim Wells was speaking in the Assembly today as he released the findings of an evaluation of the Individual Funding Request (IFR) process, which was set up to provide access to unapproved specialist drugs.

One of the recommendations being made is the establishment of a 'Specialist Medicines Fund'.

"For some time now I have heard concerns raised by cancer patients and survivors, charities, the pharmaceutical industry and my colleagues in the Assembly that the existing process of providing access to new specialist medicines in Northern Ireland could be improved," Minister Wells said.

"The review highlights how the current process can be strengthened and the subsequent recommendations point towards a number of areas which require action. These changes would make sure that patients have improved access to these drugs where clinicians feel they would make a difference, but would also introduce greater openness for clinicians and patients, as well as ensuring more robustly consistent decision making. With these improvements, I believe the IFR process can remain an effective mechanism for providing access to specialist drugs for patients in Northern Ireland.

"However, we need to accept that the changes proposed will carry costs and my Department is currently facing significant pressures across the entire medicines budget. I repeat my belief that patients should have access to the drugs they need and I want to put funding for this on a secure financial footing. I cannot do this without finding a source of additional income."

Minister Wells said: "I believe that this may be an appropriate time to reconsider the provision of free prescriptions in Northern Ireland."

A consultation period is to run for twelve weeks now, to gauge reaction to the proposed changes.

(IT/CD)