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FYI Full article at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-15156966 The health minister in Northern Ireland, Edwin Poots, has told the BBC that bringing back prescription charges could help pay for life-saving drugs. Edwin Poots said the move could mean charging members of the public as little as 50p per prescription. Prescription charges were abolished in April 2010 under the former health minister, Michael McGimpsey. Mr McGimpsey said it would cost the executive around £13m. Mr Poots has said the actual cost is much higher at around £30m. "The last assembly, the last executive, the last minister decided to offer free prescriptions," he said. "The cost was apparently £13m - I believe that was closer to £30m." Mr Poots believes the charge, which initially could raise several million pounds, could pay for drugs which treat cancer and rheumatoid arthritis. Anti-TNF therapy (tumour necrosis factor) is one of a new class of drugs that target specific proteins in the immune system known to increase arthritis and other inflammatory diseases. Presently, there are 400 people waiting for the anti-inflammatory TNF drug, compared to England where waiting lists for the same medication do not exist. Mr Poots told the BBC that there was a "moral obligation" to supply these drugs. "They are life-changing and life-saving," he said. Please access the attached hyperlink for an important electronic communications disclaimer: http://lse.ac.uk/emailDisclaimer