The SNP government has brought a change in Scotland by scraping the prescription charges. Through charges the NHS in England has successfully earning more than $450m per year but organization like British Medical Association and the Patients Association wants to make prescription free across the UK. From this change about half a million people are expected to benefit.

Over the last three years, the cost of Scotland has steadily been coming down and had remained at £3 until the final changes. The change was a result of an election pledge from the SNP in the 2007 election. The abolition of the charges comes into force when the charges increase by 20p in England to £7.40.

In 1952, just after four years of NHS set up, prescription charges were introduced. The prescription charges were introduced in order to prevent the perky use of the health service.

Wales was the first country to become the first part of UK to make all prescriptions free in 2007, and Northern Ireland made the move in 2010. England is the only country left in the UK who is still charging for prescriptions.