Sinn Fein seeks agreement to abolish prescription charges

Sinn Fein has announced its aim to abolish prescription charges for medical goods in the north of Ireland and its hopes to work with the Ulster Unionist Health Minister Michael McGimpsey to achieve this.

In her maiden speech to the Assembly Sinn Féin MLA Michelle O'Neill , the Vice Chair of the Assembly Health Committee, has said that 'prescription charges should be redundant in terms of a health service that is supposed to free at the point of delivery. People on low incomes can not access medications they need. This cannot be allowed to continue and must end now.

Sinn Féin is determined to create a society where inequalities in health are eradicated and to this end Sinn Féin launched its campaign for free prescriptions for all, over a year ago, a campaign that we have brought to most councils in the north and received universal backing. Sinn Féin notes that the graduated abolishment of prescription charges over one term, was in the UUP manifesto and we will support the current Minister for Health in achieving this worthy goal.'