Reaction to free NI prescriptions

It is a principle that I, and the entire population of Northern Ireland, wholeheartedly support.

No person in 21st century Northern Ireland should ever be placed in such a position.

This is a very positive step forward and all those patients in Northern Ireland who have found it very hard over the years to pay for their medication will welcome it - as does the BMA.

It has been the association's policy, since 2002, that prescriptions should be free to everyone.

Macmillan has been campaigning to have prescription charges for cancer patients abolished for a number of years.

We are delighted the minister has listened to us and to all those who demanded free prescriptions.

This move is long overdue and will make the burden of those suffering illness a lot lighter.

Sinn F�in had launched a campaign over a year ago to see that inequalities in health provision were removed and we support the Minister in the delivery of this project.

There was always something very wrong with having a tax on the sick.

Unfortunately for many people they simply couldn't afford the high prescription charges for necessary drugs and so went without.

This move means that people who struggle to pay for important medicine to combat cancer and other long-term illnesses can now have some small element of peace of mind in future.

The MS Society has lobbied the minister for health on a number of occasions around this issue and he has proven himself to be a man of his word.

When we met him earlier this year on the issue he promised to do all that he could and this announcement is a real boost to ordinary people who have MS across Northern Ireland.

For years the NHSSC has been concerned with the increasing cost of prescriptions and the financial burden it has placed on so many people, particularly those with a long-standing illness.

This is indeed an historic day for Northern Ireland and I appeal to the Executive to accept Mr McGimpsey's proposal.

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