People requiring medication are reminded that from tomorrow (1 January) the cost of prescriptions will fall to only £3 per item.

The reduction in charges will last until April 2010, when free prescriptions for everyone will be introduced in Northern Ireland. Prepayment certificates are also coming down in price, from £35.85 to £9 for a four month certificate and from £98.70 to £25 for a 12 month certificate.

The Health Minister Michael McGimpsey said: "In September I announced prescription charges will be abolished from 1 April 2010. This will bring an end to the inequitable system which ranked one person's suffering above another's.

"Reducing the charge to £3 is the beginning of the process towards abolition. The reduction in the cost of prepayment certificates will make a real difference for those people who need to buy medication on a regular basis," he explained.

"The introduction of free prescriptions in April 2010 will bring great comfort to thousands of people who suffer from ill-health and do not need the added anxiety of trying to find the money to pay for vital medication. It is also totally against the principles of the NHS which promises free health services to all."

Mr McGimpsey added: "The cost of prescription charging will be met from within the existing budgets. No existing services will suffer as a result. I will be putting processes in place to ensure that prescribing rates are kept within acceptable limits. Healthcare professionals must practise responsible prescribing and the public must play a part by only taking medication if they really need it."