The Spanish Ministry of Health proposed on Wednesday that pensioners should pay 10 percent of the cost of the medicines they are prescribed.

The move, proposed by Health Minister Ana Mato, is part of a package of savings presented to Spain's 17 Autonomous Communities.

The package is likely to be passed by decree following the meeting of Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy's cabinet on Friday.

People in work will see the percentage they pay for their prescriptions rise from 40 percent to 50 percent, while those with a high income will pay 60 percent of the cost of their medicines.

Measures will also be introduced to withdraw medicines for less painful disorders from the public health system, while measures will also be taken to control "health tourism," to stop visitors to Spain taking advantage of the country's health service.

For the moment, the government has resisted the temptation to introduce a Co-payment system into the health service.

Co-payment is used in many European countries such as France and Germany and sees patients pay a certain quantity of money for visits to doctors and hospitals and treatment.