Health minister James Frith has confirmed the Government keeps NHS prescription policies under regular review, as patients in England face paying £26.40 more a year than five years ago for a typical monthly prescription.
In a parliamentary response to Liberal Democrat MP Ian Roome, Mr Frith outlined the Government's stance on medical exemption certificates. The Lib Dem MP had asked whether officials routinely review these certificates and what factors guide those decisions.
Government response on prescriptions
People must hold a valid certificate before collecting NHS prescriptions free of charge. Responding to the question, Mr Frith said: "We keep all policies under regular review."
He also said the Government has introduced measures to help those who do have to pay for their medication. Mr Frith added: "This Government is also continuing to take action to make prescriptions more affordable for everyone, including freezing prescription charges for the 2026/27 financial year, both for single prescriptions and the three month and annual prescription prepayment certificates commonly used for long-term conditions."
The cost per item for NHS prescriptions in England is presently £9.90. NHS prescriptions are completely free of charge for everyone in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
Costs increase soon adds up
The cost per item has risen in recent years: £9.35 in 2021/2022, frozen at £9.35 in 2022/2023, £9.65 in 2023/2024, and £9.90 from 2024/2025 through 2026/2027.
Compared with five years ago, the cost per item has risen by 55p. Someone needing four items a month pays an extra £2.20 a month, or £26.40 a year. Ten years ago, the cost was £8.20 per item, £1.70 less than today's price.
Who can get a medical exemption certificate?
A 10-year medical exemption certificate is available to people with any of these nine medical conditions:
- A permanent fistula (for example, caecostomy, colostomy, laryngostomy or ileostomy) which needs continuous surgical dressing or an appliance
- A form of hypoadrenalism (for example, Addison's Disease) for which specific substitution therapy is essential
- Diabetes insipidus and other forms of hypopituitarism
- Diabetes mellitus, except where treatment is by diet alone
- Hypoparathyroidism
- Myasthenia gravis
- Myxoedema (that is, hypothyroidism which needs thyroid hormone replacement)
- Epilepsy which needs continuous anticonvulsive therapy
- A continuing physical disability which means you cannot go out without the help of another person
A 5-year medical exemption certificate is available to those undergoing treatment for cancer, the effects of cancer, or the effects of cancer treatment.
