Die Rezeptgebühren in England sollten abgeschafft werden, sagen Experten

Pharmacists and health charities have launched a joint campaign demanding the immediate abolition of prescription charges in England. The initiative follows new polling data indicating that one in ten adults in the region have missed vital doses of medication due to cost concerns. The National Pharmacy Association, representing approximately 6,000 community pharmacies, partnered with several charitable organizations to urge the government to align England with Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, where prescription fees have already been removed. The survey was conducted by Savanta on behalf of the NPA and polled 1,781 adults in England. Results showed that 10 percent of respondents went without prescribed medicines during the previous year because of the expense. An additional 12 percent admitted to delaying the collection of their prescriptions for the same financial reasons. A separate finding highlighted that 79 percent of the public view it as unfair that patients in England must pay for medication while residents in other parts of the United Kingdom receive it free of charge. Olivier Picard, chairman of the NPA, described the current system as a national scandal. He argued that no patient should face cost as a barrier to necessary care. Picard characterized the fee structure as a cruel tax on illness, noting that it forces some patients to pay based solely on the type of condition they suffer from. He called on the Chancellor to scrap the charges in the upcoming budget to address rising living costs and health inequalities. The standard prescription charge in England currently stands at 9.90 pounds per item. In contrast, prescription costs were eliminated in Wales in 2007, followed by Northern Ireland in 2010 and Scotland in 2011. Despite these differences, the NPA estimates that 11.6 million patients paid prescription charges in the 2025/26 period, generating roughly 733 million pounds in revenue. Exemptions exist within the current framework. Contraception and medicines prescribed for hospital inpatients are free. Individuals under 16, those aged 16 to 18 in full-time education, people aged 60 and over, certain benefit recipients, and patients with specific qualifying medical conditions are exempt from payment. However, critics argue the exemption list is inadequate. Sarah Sleet, chief executive of Asthma and Lung UK, pointed out that respiratory conditions such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are not included on the exemption list. She stated that this leaves patients effectively paying for their right to breathe. Other charity leaders echoed these sentiments. Marianne Radcliffe, chief executive of Crohn’s and Colitis UK, supported the call to remove charges, arguing that people with long-term conditions should not have to choose between their health and their finances. Fiona Loud from Kidney Care UK described the system as unfair because it penalizes ill health. Laura Cockram, head of campaigns at Parkinson’s UK, identified the upcoming budget as a key opportunity for the government to act on the cost of living crisis. Peter Lloyd, senior policy manager at the MS Society, called it outrageous that anyone faces a choice between financial sacrifice and essential medicines. Phil Day, a superintendent pharmacist at Pharmacy2U, noted that patients with multiple one-off medicines on a single prescription have asked staff which medication is most important to prioritize. Day also highlighted issues with prescription prepayment certificates, or PPCs, which allow users to pay a fixed fee for unlimited prescriptions over a set period. While 3.3 million people used PPCs in 2025/26, Day said his research suggests only 8 percent of the population currently holds one. Furthermore, 30 percent of the public have never heard of the scheme. A separate PPC exists for women taking hormone replacement therapy, with approximately 730,000 women utilizing this option in the 2025/26 period. The campaign aims to pressure policymakers before the next budget announcement. Advocates believe removing the fee would alleviate widespread cost of living pressures and prevent avoidable ill health. The NPA maintains that the complexity of the current system, combined with its partial nature, undermines the founding principles of the National Health Service. By bringing England into line with the rest of the UK, the coalition argues, the government could ensure equitable access to healthcare for all citizens regardless of their ability to pay.