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Pharmacy leaders are calling for NHS prescription charges in England to be abolished after new polling suggested some patients are going without medicines because of the cost.
A survey of 1,781 adults for the National Pharmacy Association found that one in 10 had gone without prescribed medication during the past year because they were worried about the price. A further 12% had delayed collecting a prescription, while 79% considered England’s charging system unfair.
Patients in England currently pay £9.90 for each prescription item, while NHS prescriptions are free in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Exemptions apply to children, people aged 60 and over, some benefit recipients and patients with certain medical conditions, but campaigners argue the rules leave many people with long-term illnesses paying regularly for essential treatment.
The government said almost nine in 10 NHS prescriptions are already supplied free and that charges have been frozen for two years. People who pay frequently may reduce the cost through a prescription prepayment certificate, currently priced at £32.05 for three months or £114.50 for a year.
Posted by:
K Jadon
Editorial Assistant – The Daily Round
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