New Website:  http://prescriptionchargescoalition.weebly.com/

The new Government announced in its Comprehensive Spending Review in October 2010 that ‘some programmes announced by the previous Government but not yet implemented will not be taken forward. This includes free prescriptions for people with long-term conditions’. The Prescription Charges Coalition of 25 national charities of which the TSSS are a part of found this very disappointing, despite everyone’s best efforts.

Pre-Payment Certificate (PPC) Campaign
Within days of making this announcement, however, the Government said it is ‘looking for ways to make the [prescription charges] system fairer than it is at the moment’ and that it will ‘explore options for creating a fairer system of prescription charges and exemptions, taking into account the financial context.’

Asthma UK leads the Prescription Charges Coalition and will continue to campaign for reform of the prescription charges system in England, ensuring that the Government fulfils its pledge to work towards a fairer system. We are looking at various ways in which the Government can improve affordability of medicines for people with long-term conditions. Go to www.asthma.org.uk for more detailed information.

If you’re struggling to pay for your prescription charges a Pre-Payment Certificate (PPC) may help you. The PPC is designed for people who need large quantities of medicines on a regular basis, but must still pay prescription charges.