The Royal College of Psychiatrists Northern
Ireland Division has welcomed the Health Minister’s decision to
abolish prescription charges.
“People with mental illness frequently need to
take medication continuously, and may often need more than one
medicine,” said Dr Philip McGarry, Policy and Public Affairs
Officer for the Royal College of Psychiatrists Northern Ireland
Division.
“The proposal to reduce and then remove the
cost of prescriptions will make a big difference to them. Many
people with mental illness are on low incomes, and sometimes people
cite the cost of prescriptions as a reason for discontinuing
medication. Making medicines free on the NHS will ensure that this
barrier is removed.
"We would urge the Executive to pass the Health Minister’s
proposal,” Dr McGarry added.
The Department of Health’s Prescription Cost
Analysis data show that in 2007 there were 1.5 million
prescriptions of antidepressants, 1.45 million prescriptions of
medications for sleep and anxiety, and 388,654 prescriptions of
drugs used in psychoses and related disorders.
For further information, please contact Liz Fox or Deborah
Hart in the Communications Department.
Telephone: 020 7235 2351 Extensions. 6298 or 6127
Note to editors:
For more information or to speak to Dr Philip McGarry, please contact Liz Main on 07711 558 296 or email lmain@nirelanddiv.rcpsych.ac.uk