Prescription charges were abolished in Northern Ireland in 2010, but there have been proposals to bring these back.  As lead organisation for the Prescription Charges Coalition, we have vigorously opposed this move. 

We were therefore delighted to hear Health Minister Simon Hamilton MLA, say that prescription charges would not be reintroduced during his time as Minister.  At a public event held in Stormont, politicians from all parties have since expressed their commitment to ensuring that people with long-term conditions do not have to pay prescription charges in the future.  Critical to this has been the voice of all those who took part in our survey earlier in the year and/or contacted their Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) on the issue and our local group members in Northern Ireland.  Thank you also to all the MLAs who have supported us.

With a Northern Ireland Assembly election just around the corner in May 2016, we strongly hope this commitment will be enshrined in manifestoes and policy documents.