SCRAP Prescription Charges
The weblog of the Scottish Campaign to Remove All Prescription Charges. Keeping you updated on all the news about Colin Fox MSP's bill to the Scottish Parliament.
Tuesday, November 01, 2005
Prescription Charges Bill Goes To Committee
The bill to scrap prescription charges goes to the Scottish Parliament health committee today.
Colin Fox MSP has also defended his bill against the Scottish Pharmaceutical Federation who have reversed their 50 year opposition to the charges.
BBC
Mr Fox said that prescription charges were a "tax on the sick".
He said: "It is only the sick who pay for them. The NHS should be funded out of our general taxes.
"Nobody defends the status quo. The system of exemptions seems to be irrational, illogical and acting against the founding principles of the National Health Service."
The SSP leader described the exemption system as "complete nonsense".
He said that MSPs in the Scottish Parliament who are over 60 qualified for free prescriptions as did the wealthy author JK Rowling, who has just had a baby.
However, there are 27,000 people on benefits who do not qualify, he said.
