Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of reducing the cost of inhalers to alleviate the financial burden on long term sufferers of asthma.
Where a patient obtains their inhaler via a National Health Service prescription, they may have to pay a prescription charge. The use of prescription charges protects patients from changes in the underlying cost of individual medicines. Around 89% of prescriptions are dispensed free of charge and extensive arrangements are already in place to help people access NHS prescriptions, including a broad range of NHS prescription charge exemptions. To support those with the greatest need who do not qualify for an exemption, they can spread the cost of their prescriptions by purchasing prescription pre-payment certificates. A holder of a 12-month certificate can get all the prescriptions they need for just over £2 per week.