The cost of NHS prescription charges has been reduced by £1.85 to £5 per item.
This is the first step towards the Scottish Government's proposals to phase out prescription charges over a three year period, delivering abolition by 2011.
The cost of prescription pre-payment certificates (PPCs) have also been reduced. The cost of a 12-month certificate has been cut from £98.70 to £48.00 and a four month PPC will be reduced from £35.85 to £17.00 - a cut of more than 50 per cent.