Prescription charges have been reduced for 390,000 people over the age of 70.

From March 1, those over the age of 70 will be charged €2 per prescription item, a reduction of 50c. Meanwhile the maximum monthly limit per person or family will fall from €25 to €20.

According to the Minister for Health, Simon Harris, this move advances ‘a key Programme for Government commitment to reduce the cost of medicines for medical card holders'.

However, while the reduction has been welcomed by the Irish Pharmacy Union (IPU), it has called on the Government to exempt vulnerable groups from having to pay any prescription levy.

"While we welcome the reduction, we would hope that this is only a first step to eventually phasing out the levy, which has put economic barriers in the way of patients taking their medicines.

"At the very least, we would call on the Minister to review the application of the levy and not apply it to vulnerable patients, such as those in residential care settings, homeless patients, patients with intellectual disabilities and palliative care patients," commented IPU president, Daragh Connolly.

He insisted that some people are forced to ‘gamble with their health' because they do not have the money to pay for their required medications. As a result, some reduce the amount of medication they use, while others stop using it entirely.

"The ultimate outcome is sicker patients, with more complex medical needs, needing advanced care in an already extremely overburdened health system. The reduction in the levy for over 70s is a welcome move, but nonetheless it represents only one step in the right direction and we hope to see further progress in this area over the course of the year," Mr Connolly added.