Sir, The Government has said it will publish a public consultation to review prescription charges in England “soon”. Change is long overdue. The current list of medical exemptions is more than 40 years old. The latest research shows that around 800,000 people every year cannot afford their prescriptions. It is simply unacceptable in today’s health service to force people to select their medication based on what they can afford rather than what their doctor prescribes.

However, we are extremely concerned that this consultation will lead to nothing more than a tinkering of an inherently unfair system. Ministers have already made clear that any changes must be “cost-neutral”. This means that any reform will inevitably involve some patients losing out. In effect, they will be robbing Peter to pay Paul.

This is despite the introduction of free prescriptions in Wales, the phasing-out of charges in Scotland, and moves towards a more equitable system in Northern Ireland.

We are calling on the Government to think again. The review must consider innovative ways to fund additional spending on the prescriptions budget in England, such as by more effective use of non-branded medicines that could save hundreds of millions of pounds a year.

Neil Betteridge
Chief Executive, Arthritis Care

Andrew Russell
Chief Executive, Association for Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus

Neil Churchill
Chief Executive, Asthma UK

Samia al Qadhi
Chief Executive, Breast Cancer Care

David Harker
Chief Executive, Citizens Advice

Vanessa Stanislas
Chief Executive, Disability Alliance

Paul Cann
Director of Policy and External Relations, Help the Aged

Ciarán Devane
Chief Executive, Macmillan Cancer Support

Andrew McCulloch
Chief Executive, Mental Health Foundation

Paul Farmer
Chief Executive, Mind

Simon Gillespie
Chief Executive, MS Society

Paul Jenkins
Chief Executive, Rethink

Steve Ford
Chief Executive, Parkinson's Disease Society

Nick Partridge
Chief Executive, Terrence Higgins Trust

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