This means regular consumers of these medicines will see prices rocket.

They include Almax, Voltarén and Bisolvón, among other drugs for 'minor' illnesses and pain such as diarrhoea, gastric secretion, bruising and skin irritations.

Mató's department was initially going to add 456 drugs to the list – which will not appear until August and the contents of which have not even been revealed to the regional governments – but has now taken 31 of these off it.

And the list may be revised at any time, meaning that other medications which are currently available at prescription prices could eventually have to be paid for in full.

When the regional presidents of Catalunya, Andalucía and the Basque Country showed themselves to be reluctant to apply a move which would 'penalise those with the lowest income and those who were ill', they were reminded by Mató that it was obligatory and they had no choice in the matter.