MPs debate e-petition on prescription charges for the over 60s

Peter, who is worried about affording his prescriptions in the future, started a petition, which got over 46,000 signatures and it was debated in Parliament.

​Tonia Antonazzi MP for Gower led the debate and shared many of the arguments the Coalition have been presenting to the government, these include:

• The government’s proposal to align prescription charge exemption age and the State Pension Age in England will place additional financial pressure on tens of thousands of people with long term conditions. 
• As people get older they develop more health conditions and need more medicines to stay well. 
• People who cannot afford their medication rely on NHS services more, placing greater pressure on A&E and GP services. In fact the Coalition's 2017 survey found that:  
  • A third of respondents in England with long term conditions had not collected a prescription item due to cost.
  • Nearly a third admitted that they are skipping or reducing medication doses, with cost concerns a key factor for more than four out of ten.
  • As a direct result of reducing or skipping medications, nearly three in five (59%) became more ill and 34% needed to visit their GP or hospital.

Others supported the petitioners' call for prescription charges to be protected for those over 60, including Margaret Ferrier MP and Marion Fellows MP from Scotland, where prescriptions are already free.  

Taiwo Owatemi, a pharmacist and MP from Coventry North West highlighted the latest evidence from the Royal Pharmaceutical Society survey where community pharmacists shared they are being asked to give advice on which medicine can be left behind by their patients, as they simply can't afford them. She also urged the Government to review the outdated prescription charge exemption list.   
 
Shadow Health Minister Andrew Gwynne MP urged the government Minister to freeze prescription charges this year and reassure those over 60 that their prescriptions will remain free.

Neil O'Brien, the government Minister with responsibility for prescription charges, responded by: 

• Talking about the support the government is providing to help people survive the cost of living crisis.
• Stating that no decisions about aligning the charge with the state pension age have been made yet.
• Commenting that the government is thinking hard about balancing the needs of the older population along with pressures around health and finance.
• Sharing there will be an increase in the over 60s in the coming years.
• Reporting that over 1 billion prescription items are dispensed each year, with 9 out of 10 items dispensed free of charge. 
• Noting that 85% of 60-65 would be minimally affected by the proposal
• And he concluded that there is help for people on low incomes, along with the Pre Payment Certificate.     

We'll thank the MPs who took part in the debate and keep our eyes peeled for future government announcements on the charge.