Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2019, published 109th ILC session (2021)

Workmen's Compensation (Accidents) Convention, 1925 (No. 17) - United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (Ratification: 1949)

Article 9 of the Convention. Cost-sharing for pharmaceutical products. In its previous comments, the Committee requested the Government to indicate the measures taken to reduce cost sharing for pharmaceutical products outside the hospital for victims of occupational accidents. The Committee notes, as stated by the Government in its report, that prescription charges and the costs of dental treatment outside the hospital continue to be borne by recipients of industrial injuries benefits on the same basis as they are borne by people receiving other state benefits. The Committee further notes the Government’s indication that assistance may be available, for example, in case of receipt of qualifying income-related benefits or in case of specified conditions related to age or health. As far as Northern Ireland is concerned, the Committee takes due note that all Health Service prescriptions dispensed outside the hospital are free of charge for everyone. Recalling that, in accordance with Article 9 of the Convention, the cost of medical aid, surgical and pharmaceutical aid shall be provided free of charge, the Committee requests the Government to take the necessary measures to ensure the full application of Article 9 of the Convention with respect to the provision of pharmaceutical products outside the hospital to all persons protected in case of occupational injury.

The Committee has been informed that, based on the recommendations of the Standards Review Mechanism Tripartite Working Group (SRM tripartite working group), the Governing Body has decided that member States for which Workmen’s Compensation (Accidents) Convention, 1925 (No. 17) is in force should be encouraged to ratify the more recent Employment Injury Benefits Convention, 1964 [Schedule I amended in 1980] (No. 121), or to accept Part VI of Social Security (Minimum Standards) Convention, 1952 (No. 102) (see GB.328/LILS/2/1). The Committee therefore encourages the Government to follow up the Governing Body’s decision at its 328th Session (October–November 2016) approving the recommendations of the SRM tripartite working group and to consider ratifying Convention No 121 or accepting Part VI of Convention No. 102 as the most up-to-date instruments in this subject area.