Concerns over prescription charges and access to medicines

Polling commissioned by the National Pharmacy Association (NPA) has found that 1 in 10 patients went without medicine last year because of concerns about prescription charges.

The survey found that 12% of adults across England delayed getting medicines because of cost concerns, while 41% worried they could not afford their NHS prescriptions.

In response to the findings, we issued the following comment:

Dr. James Davies, Director of Research and Insights at Community Pharmacy England, said:

“The Chancellor has an opportunity in this Budget to remove one of the most unfair costs facing patients. No one should be forced to choose between paying for essential medicines and making ends meet, yet these figures show that too many people are doing exactly that. Prescription charges also add to the workload of already stretched community pharmacy teams who have to collect those charges and check for exemptions.

With four in ten patients worried about affording their prescriptions and one in ten going without medicines because of cost, scrapping prescription charges would remove a barrier to essential medicines while also simplifying the system for both patients and pharmacy teams. Healthcare should be based on clinical need, not ability to pay.”