Prescription charges in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
Each UK government sets or publishes its own figures for prescription charges. This page puts the four side by side, quoting each from its own official source, and sets out how they are defined differently.
| Nation | Figure | Published by |
|---|---|---|
| England | £9.90 per item | NHS (nhs.uk) |
| Wales | Free since 1 April 2007 | Welsh Government |
| Scotland | Free since 1 April 2011 | legislation.gov.uk (Scottish Statutory Instrument 2011 No. 55) |
| Northern Ireland | Free since April 2010 | Northern Ireland Assembly (Official Report) |
What each government publishes
England
NHS (nhs.uk), “NHS prescription charges”:
The current prescription charge is £9.90 per item.
Many people are exempt, including people aged 60 or over, under-16s and those on certain benefits.
Wales
Welsh Government, “Free prescriptions are a long term investment in people’s health”:
Since 1 April 2007 prescription medicine has been provided free in Wales.
For patients registered with a Welsh GP who collect prescriptions from a pharmacy in Wales.
Scotland
legislation.gov.uk (Scottish Statutory Instrument 2011 No. 55), “The National Health Service (Free Prescriptions and Charges for Drugs and Appliances) (Scotland) Regulations 2011, explanatory note”:
These Regulations provide for the revocation of the National Health Service (Charges for Drugs and Appliances) (Scotland) Regulations 2008, (“the 2008 Regulations”) thereby abolishing prescription charges payable in relation to Scottish prescription forms
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland Assembly (Official Report), “Committee for Health, Social Services and Public Safety: prescription charges, March 2011”:
the final stage of the process was fulfilled with complete abolition of charging in April 2010
How the four nations' figures differ
- England charges per item, not per prescription, and exempts many groups; a prepayment certificate caps the cost for people who need many items.
- In Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland prescriptions dispensed under each nation's own NHS are free. Where a prescription from one nation is dispensed in another, the rules of the nation dispensing it can differ, as the Scottish regulations' explanatory note sets out for English prescription forms.
Other subjects compared across the UK nations
- Life expectancy in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
- Council tax in England, Scotland and Wales, and rates in Northern Ireland
- University tuition fees in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
Sources and receipts
- NHS (nhs.uk): NHS prescription chargesread 2026-10-15 · SHA-256
2c4e46d31e72bdd5… - Welsh Government: Free prescriptions are a long term investment in people’s healthread 2026-10-15 · SHA-256
6ef126a45130a56d… - legislation.gov.uk (Scottish Statutory Instrument 2011 No. 55): The National Health Service (Free Prescriptions and Charges for Drugs and Appliances) (Scotland) Regulations 2011, explanatory noteread 2026-10-15 · SHA-256
c10818946d57195a… - Northern Ireland Assembly (Official Report): Committee for Health, Social Services and Public Safety: prescription charges, March 2011read 2026-10-15 · SHA-256
eb4e6dfe87de4d87…
This page states each government's figures. It gives no view on whether a figure is high or low. To report an error, send a correction request.