Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment he has made of the potential merits of adding medications related to (a) asthma, (b) depression, (c) heart disease, (d) chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and (e) hypertension to the NHS prescription charge exemption list.

No assessment has been made. We currently have no plans to review or extend the National Health Service prescription charge medical exemption list to include asthma, depression, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or hypertension.

Extensive arrangements are in already place to help people afford NHS prescriptions, including a range of exemptions relating to age, income or a medical condition for which people may already qualify. Approximately 89% of NHS prescription items are dispensed in the community free of charge. To support those who do not qualify for an exemption, the cost of prescriptions can be capped by purchasing a prescription pre-payment certificate, which can be paid for in instalments. A holder of a 12-month certificate can get all the prescriptions they need for just over £2 per week.