# Free Prescriptions in Scotland & Wales? | Pick My Pharmacy

URL: https://pickmypharmacy.co.uk/answers/are-prescriptions-free-in-scotland-and-wales/
Description: NHS prescriptions are free for everyone in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland — only England charges £9.90 per item. The rules, nation by nation.

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NHS Services & Rules

# Are prescriptions free in Scotland and Wales?

By [Kaiser Khan](/author/kaiser-khan/) · Updated 9 July 2026

In short

Yes. NHS prescriptions have been free for everyone in Scotland since 2011 and in Wales since 2007. Northern Ireland has also charged nothing since 2010. Only England charges a per-item prescription fee, currently £9.90.

At a glance

- ·Scotland: free since April 2011
- ·Wales: free since April 2007
- ·Northern Ireland: free since April 2010
- ·England: £9.90 per item, frozen for 2026/27
- ·Charges depend on where you collect your prescription, not where you live

## Why England still charges

England is the only UK nation that retains a per-item prescription charge, currently £9.90. A wide range of exemptions apply, including for under-16s, over-60s, pregnant women, and people with certain medical conditions, so many people in England pay nothing anyway.

## What determines whether you pay

The charge (or lack of one) is based on where the pharmacy dispensing your prescription is located, not where you're registered with a GP or where you live. If you collect your prescription in Scotland, Wales, or Northern Ireland, you won't be charged even if you're normally resident in England.

## Is a PPC worth it if you live in England near the border?

If you regularly collect prescriptions in England, a Prescription Prepayment Certificate can still be worthwhile if you take four or more items in three months. It has no relevance if you're consistently collecting from a pharmacy in Scotland, Wales, or Northern Ireland.

Next step

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## People Also Ask
Do private prescriptions cost the same across the UK?+
No — private prescription prices are set by the individual pharmacy or prescriber and vary regardless of nation, since they sit outside the NHS charge system entirely.

Keep reading

- [How much is an NHS prescription in 2026?](/answers/how-much-is-an-nhs-prescription/)
- [What is a prescription prepayment certificate (PPC)?](/answers/what-is-a-prescription-prepayment-certificate/)
- [PPC savings calculator](/calculators/ppc-savings-calculator/)
- [Save money on prescriptions guide](/guides/how-to-save-money-on-prescriptions/)

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This article is general information for UK patients, not medical advice, and NHS rules and charges change — confirm current rules on [nhs.uk](https://www.nhs.uk) or speak to a pharmacist or GP before acting. For urgent medical help call NHS 111, or 999 in an emergency. Price figures are indicative benchmarks from our[methodology](/methodology/).