Free prescriptions for people with asthma
24 September 2008

Asthma UK has welcomed the announcement by Prime Minister Gordon Brown that people with long-term conditions will have their prescription charges abolished, but called for the Government to spell out when this will happen. In England, each prescription item costs £7.10 - although patients needing regular courses can pay a flat rate of £102.50 for a year's supply.

Charges raise over £400m for the NHS, but a range of exemptions are already in place meaning just 12% of prescriptions are currently paid for.Prescription charges were abolished in Wales in April 2007, and are in the process of being phased out in Scotland.

Neil Churchill, Chief Executive at Asthma UK, said: ‘While we welcome the news that prescription charges will be abolished for all people with long-term conditions, we now need a clear deadline for this to be implemented, within the lifetime of the present Government.

‘Until then, the system will continue to be unfair and unsatisfactory for the 4.4 million people with asthma in England, many of whom are forced to stop taking their medicines because they simply cannot afford them, which can result in debilitating asthma attacks and put their lives in danger.’

Read Neil Churchill's blog on prescription charges