In its recent budget, the Scottish government announced that prescription charges in Scotland are to be phased out under a £97-million plan. Macmillan Cancer Support's research shows 91% of cancer patients suffer financially and that almost one in ten cancer patients are unable to afford their prescriptions. It's morally wrong that people in Northern Ireland are still being forced to pay for vital drugs when these charges have been abolished in Scotland and Wales.

Outdated prescription charge rules in Northern Ireland are pushing the financial burden on to cancer patients who are increasingly liable for prescription charges, often for long periods of time.

We must end this postcode lottery, it's ridiculous that patients here are struggling to get the medication they desperately need simply because they can't afford to buy it.

Heather Monteverde

General Manager

Macmillan Cancer Support

Belfast BT9 6EU