DUP Should stop playing politics with the Health Service

Ulster Unionist Party Health spokesperson John McCallister has criticised comments made by the DUP following an announcement by Minister for Health Michael McGimpsey which stated that prescription charges are to be abolished.

The UUP MLA rubbished claims in a DUP press release today which stated that the news in relation to prescription charges was 'testimony to the sound financial planning that went into the production of the Northern Ireland budget.'

"This has simply been made possible through efficiencies in the drugs budget - it is categorically nothing to do with the improved budget of the Finance Minister. It is time the DUP stopped playing politics with the Health Service, said the South Down MLA.

"The news today from my colleague Michael McGimpsey regarding free prescriptions for all will be welcome by all sections of the community in Northern Ireland - the DUP's comments today do not prove helpful at all."

"It is ironic that when the draft budget was discussed, numerous DUP MLA's claimed that the Minister for Health did not require extra resources - those extra resources came because an UUP Health Minister fought tooth and nail for them.