Patients are to face a 10 pence increase in the price of a prescription, the government announced on Monday.

From 1 April, prescription charges in England will increase by 1.5 per cent to £6.30. Charges in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are a matter for the devolved institutions.

The changes will raise a further £446 million for the NHS in 2003/04.

"For the fifth consecutive year we have held the increase to 10p in cash. This is a modest increase, which will help maintain the contribution that charges make towards the cost of the NHS," said health minister David Lammy.

"The extensive exemption and remission arrangements we have in place mean that 85 per cent of prescription items are dispensed free of charge."

Liberal Democrats condemned the move as a "regressive tax on the sick."

"Prescription charges fall particularly heavily on those who just fail to meet the exemption criteria. These people may not be poor enough to qualify for exemption, but may still be put off getting their medicines because of charges," said health spokesman Dr Evan Harris.

"Poorer patients could be forgiven for asking what the point of going to the doctor is, when charges may prevent them from getting the prescription made up.

"Liberal Democrats are committed to freezing prescription charges as a prelude to abolishing them altogether. The Government is clearly committed to raising them."