In partnership with the Prescription Charges Coalition (PCC), RPS England Board Chair Tase Oputu has signed an open letter to Party Leaders today calling on them to commit to scrapping prescription charges in England for all long-term conditions.

The letter highlights the outdated exemption list and how this leaves many with conditions like Parkinson’s, cystic fibrosis and HIV paying for essential medicines.

It calls on Party Leaders to urgently review the exemption list and take action to ensure everyone has access to essential medicines.

Tase Oputu, RPS England Pharmacy Board Chair, said:

“Nobody should face a financial barrier to accessing the medicines they need. Prescription charges are a stealth tax on health and every day pharmacists are asked by patients who are unable to afford all the items in their prescription which ones they could 'do without'.

“If you can’t afford your medicines, your condition can worsen which leads to poor health, lost productivity and increases the risk of hospital admission, piling pressure on the NHS.

“As the general election approaches, I hope that political parties can commit to scrapping this complex and unjust system.”

Read the letter.

Help take action on this and other key pharmacy issues in the upcoming general election by sharing our manifesto.

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