The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 270 No 7242 p439
29 March 2003

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  The new Charter
  Supermarket pharmacy
  Packaging
  Drug addiction
  Pharmacist prescribing
  Hospital pharmacy
  Prescription charges
  CPD

Letters to the Editor

Prescription charges

Easier to turn a blind eye

From Mr P. M. Brown, MRPharmS

Adrian Korsner (PJ, 22 March, p401) is not the only person to see that a small levy on prescriptions would lead to simplified administration, reduced waste of medicines and improved health care for those who are currently having to decide which of their prescribed medicines they cannot afford.

So how much will a £1 levy per item raise in comparison with the current prescription charges? This must be a relatively easy question to answer. The more difficult problem will be to find politicians brave enough to charge the levy on pensioners, those on benefits and those with a chronic illness. In the meantime it is easier for the Government to increase prescription charges every year and turn a blind eye to everything else.

Peter Brown
Croydon, Surrey

£1 levy is not political sense

From Reverend G. J. Weeks, MRPharmS

Adrian Korsner (PJ, 22 March, p401) does not tell us the purpose of the levy as he perceives it. To me it is merely a fiscal measure. As such, if it were to be levied on all prescriptions, I think 60p per item would bring in the same revenue as at present.

However, no government will do this. The only popular taxes are the ones other people pay. A levy for all would be just as fair as the late community charge and just as popular.

Yes it makes pharmaceutical sense, but not political sense.

Graham Weeks
Greenford, Middlesex

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