Prescription charges

Currently, only patients with certain specified long-term conditions qualify for free prescriptions. This list has not been updated since 1968 and I support the calls for an urgent review into the situation.

Research has found that 800,000 people are going without vital medication because they cannot afford to pay for their prescriptions. This is deeply troubling - and very damaging to the health of the individuals concerned.

Many elements of the present system are confusing and unfair to patients. Patients with diabetes who require insulin treatment receive free medicines for all conditions, whereas people whose diabetes is controlled by diet must pay for all their medication.

The system is behind the times and unfit for today's world. It excludes a number of long-term conditions. Thanks to medical advances, people with such conditions are now living much longer. For example, people with cystic fibrosis who would have died from their illness in childhood in the 1960s are now living and reaching adulthood - and finding that they have to pay charges for all their long-term medications. Severe chronic diseases like HIV/AIDS and cancer are not covered at all.

As it stands, the system needs to be looked at closely to see how it is impacting on the quality of care available to patients. A situation where the health of patients with long-term conditions is being damaged because they are unable to afford their medication is deeply worrying.

It is grossly unfair that some people living with long-term conditions pay no prescription charges, while people with other, equally serious conditions (such as cystic fibrosis or multiple sclerosis) do have to pay for all their treatments. I believe the range of long-term conditions which qualify for exemption should be extended, so that patients are not disadvantaged by the costs of treating a severe condition.

I have signed an Early Day Motion (EDM 1264) calling for the Government to launch and publish a public consultation on prescription charges in England. The Government was supposed to publish a consultation in autumn 2007 - but they have still not produced this.

I am also supporting Arthritis Care, Association for Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus, Asthma UK, Breast Cancer Care, Citizens Advice, Disability Alliance, Macmillan Cancer Support, Mind, MS Society, Parkinson's Disease Society and the Terrence Higgins Trust in their calls to urge the Government to launch this consultation.

Background information: only the following conditions currently qualify for an exemption certificate:

A permanent fistula requiring dressing.

Forms of hypoadrenalism such as Addison's Disease.

Diabetes insipidus and other forms of hypopituitarism.

Diabetes mellitus except where treatment is by diet alone.

Hypoparathyroidism.

Myasthenia gravis.

Myxoedema (underactive thyroid) or other conditions where supplemental thyroid hormone is necessary.

Epilepsy requiring regular anti-epilepsy medication.

If, because of a permanent disability, you cannot leave your home without help.