The NHS prescription charge will be frozen at £9.35 this year as desperate Tories look for new measures to tackle the cost of living crisis.
This will be the first time in 12 years the cost of medicines has not gone up in line with inflation and will save around 58p on each prescribed item.
Health Secretary Sajid Javid said: “The rise in the cost of living has been unavoidable. Whilst we can’t completely prevent these rises, we can help.
“This is why I am freezing prescription charges to help ease some of these pressures and put money back in people’s pockets.”
He said the move will save those who pay for prescriptions £17million overall.
Three month pre-payment certificates of £30.25 and 12 month PPCs of £108.10 will also remain unchanged.
They mean that people can get all the medicines they need for just over £2 a week.
Pensioners, new mothers, students, and those who receive state benefits or live in care homes get their prescriptions free.
