NHS prescription charges in England are to go up from £7.10 to £7.20 from April, ministers have announced.
The cost of a dental check-up on the NHS in England will also increase by 30p to £16.50.
The announcement came on the day doctors' leaders called on the government to abolish prescription charges for all patients in England.
The British Medical Association (BMA) said the current system was not working and was "iniquitous" for many patients.
Prescriptions are free for everyone in Wales, will be free in Northern Ireland by 2010 and in Scotland by 2011.
PRESCRIPTION CHARGES
England:
£7.20 [from April]
Scotland:
Phased out by 2011
Wales:
No charge since 2007
Northern Ireland:
£3 from January 2009, phased out by April 2010
The BMA has accused the government of supporting an "outdated" system in England which can harm health, saying that charging can put people off paying for the medication they need.
But the government has stressed that 89% of prescription charges in England are dispensed for free.
Pensioners and children are exempt from the charges, as are pregnant women, people on income-related benefits and patients with certain conditions.
Public health minister Dawn Primarolo said: "For people who say, 'Make prescriptions free' - which I think is a point that we do need to discuss - they also have to say, 'OK, what don't we spend the £400m on in the health service?'"
The minister said: "The remainder [of paid-for prescription charges] provides valuable income to the NHS, which goes towards the safety and speed of healthcare.
"But we are making the system fairer. Cancer patients will be eligible for free prescriptions from 1 April and we're looking at how we can do the same for people with long-term conditions."
CASE STUDY
Kelly Ridpath, 28, from Lincoln has suffered from asthma since the age of three.
She pays charges for asthma inhalers, anti-histamine drugs, migraine tablets and a once-a-year adrenaline injection for her nut allergy.
Kelly estimates she pays between £20 and £25 a month on prescription charges.
"I haven't opted for the £95 annual prescription "season ticket" because each year I have told myself I won't need so many drugs, " she said.
Kelly said she can afford to pay the charges, but is aware there are many - including in her own family - who struggle to find the money.
"I think it is unfair that people in other parts of the UK - such as Wales - don't pay any charges," she said.
"The government says the charges help to finance the NHS - but I thought I already paid my taxes to do this anyway."