Government announced on Thursday that prescription charges will increase by 10 pence from April 1. The present cost of prescription is 7.10-pound.

The British Medical Association (BMA) said that the government should abolish prescription charges for all patients in England as the current system is unfair on many people.

It added that the Department of Health (DoH) should follow the examples of Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, where prescriptions are either free or will become so in the next couple of years.

Presently people with Type 1 diabetes, hypoparathyroidism, a permanent fistula such as a colostomy which requires surgical dressing and epilepsy that require continuous medication, people aged 60 or over, under-16s, those aged 16 to 18 in full-time education, people on benefits and pregnant women are also exempted from it.

BMA Chairman Dr Hamish Meldrum said: "The system we have at the moment isn't working and is unfair on many patients. Abolishing prescription charges altogether is the fairest and simplest option."