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<\/p>\nNHS prescription charges have gone up again leaving vulnerable people at risk of being unable to afford medicine.<\/p>\n
Prescription items are currently \u00a39.15, which is set to go up to \u00a39.35 in England from April 1.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
It comes after the price was increased by 15p last year, and 20p in both 2019 and 2018.<\/p>\n
The cost was \u00a37.40\u00a0ten years ago, in 2011. <\/p>\n
From April 1, the price of a three-month prescription will become \u00a330.25 (an increase of 60p) and a 12-month prescription will be \u00a3108.10 (an increase of \u00a32.20), according to the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee (PSNC).<\/p>\n
Pharmacy bodies have long called for England to scrap the prescription charge. <\/p>\n
Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland do not have charges on prescriptions. <\/p>\n
Laura Cockram, chairwoman of the\u00a0Prescription\u00a0Charges Coalition, said: \u201cBy continuing to drive up the cost of\u00a0prescriptions, the Government is ignoring clear evidence that the charge is a false economy that leaves people unable to afford vital medication, which can then place increased pressure on the NHS through emergency hospital admissions.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo-one should be forced to choose between eating or heating their home and paying for vital medication.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt this highly volatile economic time, it is incredibly disappointing that yet again, people with long-term conditions are being penalised by an outdated\u00a0prescription\u00a0charges system.\u201d<\/p>\n
The coalition called for a review of the Government\u2019s \u201cwidely outdated exemption list which was created when some conditions, like HIV, didn\u2019t even exist\u201d.<\/p>\n
Ms Cockram added: \u201cIt needs to take the time to do this rather than just ploughing on with the price increase so people with long-term conditions like Parkinson\u2019s, asthma and MS, are no longer penalised for having the \u2018wrong condition\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n
You can get free NHS prescriptions if, at the time the prescription is dispensed, you:<\/p>\n
Medical exemption certificates are issued if you have:<\/p>\n
You're also entitled to free prescriptions if you or your partner (including civil partner) receive, or you're under the age of 20 and the dependant of someone receiving various income support.<\/p>\n
Read more about\u00a0who can get free NHS prescriptions.<\/p>\n
Amendments to the National Health Service (Charges for Drugs and Appliances) Regulations were laid before Parliament on Tuesday, according to the legislation website page.<\/p>\n
Announcing the increase, PSNC Chief Executive Simon Dukes said: \u201cThe prescription charge increase is our yearly reminder that the Government mandates community pharmacy teams to be not only clinicians but also tax collectors. <\/p>\n
"After the year that pharmacy teams have all experienced, the continued use of front-line healthcare staff for this purpose is unwelcome and inappropriate."<\/p>\n
It comes after bodies including PSNC and the British Medical Association (BMA) called on Health Secretary Matt Hancock to temporarily remove the charge during the pandemic in April last year.<\/p>\n
A Department of Health and Social Care spokeswoman said: \u201cNearly 90 per cent of\u00a0prescription\u00a0items are dispensed free of charge in community pharmacies in England and existing exemptions are in place covering children, pregnant women, and those over 60, on a low income or with medical conditions like cancer, epilepsy and diabetes.<\/p>\n
\u201cPatients with long-term conditions or on a low income can apply for a range of\u00a0prescription\u00a0charge exemptions or additional support through the NHS Low Income scheme.<\/p>\n
\u201cPatients can also buy prepayment certificates to cover all the\u00a0prescriptions\u00a0they need for just over \u00a32 per week.\u201d<\/p>\n