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We've heard from thousands of people about the impact that prescription charges are having on their lives. Read our research reports here.
On 1st April 2017, prescription charges increased again to £8.60. We are calling for people with long term conditions to be added to the medical exemption list, which is extremely out-of-date and unfair. Sign up to our mailing list if you'd like to get involved. Read our campaign blog for all the latest updates and more information. 
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"I could not afford the prescribed medication for anxiety, so thought I'd try and go without, ended up having panic attacks and losing my job"
"I have to put my family first before I can afford my 3 lots of medication a month. I have 3 young children to feed" "Last year, I nearly died after a severe asthma attack and I'm worried that it will happen all over again and I can't afford my Prescription Prepayment Certificate at the moment" “Some time ago, when I had less money, I was having to spend a larger percentage of my income on migraine medications, the stress of which then contributed to further migraines.” "Rheumatoid arthritis is for life. A chronic disease with no cure. The quality of my life is dependent on a cocktail of 10 different drugs. With them, I can almost live a normal life, without them, I would be a burden on society, needing constant long term care at a huge cost to the state" 33% of those who pay for their prescriptions have not collected medication because of the cost. 30% reduce or skip their doses, with more than four in ten of these citing cost as the reason. Almost 60% of those who skip or reduce doses have seen their health deteriorate as a result, with 34% requiring additional medical treatment . Still Paying the Price research Research by Rethink Mental Illness showed that 38% of people with severe mental illnesses such as schizophrenia have had to choose between paying household bills and paying prescription charges. |
