Charities launch anti-prescription charge campaign in Northern Ireland

The MS Society and British Heart Foundation Northern Ireland (BHF NI) have launched a joint campaign opposing the reintroduction of prescription charges for people living with long-term conditions.

The “Keep Us Well” campaign is calling on Health Minister Simon Hamilton MLA and the Stormont Executive to commit to keeping prescriptions free for the one in three people in Northern Ireland living with a long-term condition.

A return to prescription charges in Northern Ireland was proposed in February this year following a government consultation process.

Director of MS Society Northern Ireland Patricia Gordon said medication is a vital part of treatment for people living with a long-term condition, not a luxury.

“We don’t want a situation where people are choosing between eating, heating and treating,” Patricia said.

“It is time for the Stormont Executive to end the confusion and make a firm commitment to the thousands of people in Northern Ireland living with a long term condition that they won’t face prescription charges now or in the future.”

Keep Us Well is supported by the Prescription Charges Coalition and the Long Term Conditions Alliance NI, together representing more than 50 charities in Northern Ireland. The MS Society campaigns for the abolition of prescription charges for people with long-term conditions in England through the Prescription Charges Coalition.

Prescription charges were abolished in Wales in 2007, in Northern Ireland in 2010 and in Scotland in 2011.

Picture (c) MS Society.