Prescription charges have been done away with, a decision which is completely in accordance with the founding principles of the National Health Service. It means free treatment to be distributed to everyone without any exceptions. This service was designed and operated all across the entirety of the UK before a mixture of abuse and spiralling prices resulted in the introduction of charges for some treatment, including the prescriptions.

The SNP manifesto which sought to do away with the charge was a bold and welcome return to how the NHS is supposed to be.

However, the Tories are correct in warning about the consequences that doing away with the charges completely will pave the path to those who will never give up the opportunity to take advantage of receiving something for free.

Certain prescription drugs will end up with people who don’t have any disease or illness apart from a desire for the side effects that the tablets may cause. Making the medicines freely available will create new obligations for GPs to make sure that they do not end up becoming unwitting suppliers to people who see a new opportunity to make a quick financial killing.