Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of expanding the criteria for medical exemption certificates to include everyone with a (a) disability and (b) chronic illness.

The Department has no plans to expand the criteria for medical exemption certificates.

Individuals with qualifying medical conditions or with a continuing physical disability which prevents them from leaving their residence without the help of another person are entitled to apply for a medical exemption certificate.

People may also be exempt from prescription charges depending on their age, whether they are in qualifying full-time education, whether they are pregnant or have recently given birth, or whether they are in receipt of certain benefits or a war pension.

People who do not qualify for an exemption and who need many prescription items could save money with a prescription prepayment certificate, which allows people to claim as many prescriptions as they need for a set cost. People on a low income can seek help under the NHS Low Income Scheme.