PDA asks pharmacists in England to complete Prescription Charges survey

Abolishing prescription charges for people with long-term conditions could save the NHS millions a year

Extending its support for the Prescription Charges Coalition (PCC), the Pharmacists' Defence Association (PDA) is asking pharmacists in England to share their experiences of patients denying prescriptions due to financial issues.

PDA members who have practiced in the country within the last 12 months are asked to complete the Prescription Charges Coalition survey by Sunday 28 January.

The PCC is an alliance of more than 50 organisations campaigning to abolish unfair prescription charges for people with long-term conditions in England.

All members of the coalition, including PDA and Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS), understand that if patients do not receive their prescribed medicines due to the cost, their health may deteriorate, and this can increase costs for the National Health Service (NHS).

In a study published in May 2018, the York Health Economics Consortium (YHEC) suggested that abolishing prescription charges for people with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis) and Parkinson’s -– two of the long-term conditions represented in the coalition – could save the NHS over £20 million a year.

The association also cited reports of patients denying prescriptions for stomach protection, such as Omeprazole or Lansoprazole, when prescribed in conjunction with strong anti-inflammatory tablets such as Naproxen, which can increase their risk of developing a stomach ulcer.

Pharmacists have also reported examples of patients with asthma refusing steroid inhalers due to cost and rationing their reliever inhalers instead, despite their advice.