This website is intended for healthcare professionals

News

Scrap prescription charge for long-term conditions

Prescribing Research
Health groups have urged health ministers to abolish prescription charges for patients with long-term conditions in England, after research showed more than a third are missing out on medication due to prescription costs.

Health groups have urged health ministers to abolish prescription charges for patients with long-term conditions in England, after research showed more than a third are missing out on medication due to prescription costs.

The calls came as it was revealed the prescription charge in England will rise by 20p to £7.85 from 1 April.

The Prescription Charges Coalition, an alliance of 20 health groups and charities, has sent a report to the government highlighting the ‘fundamental unfairness' of the prescription system and calling for reform.

Prescriptions are free in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.