Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans he has to support people with sickle cell disease to access free prescriptions.

There are no current plans to review or extend the prescription charge medical exemptions list to include long term conditions such as sickle cell disease. Approximately 89% of prescriptions are dispensed free of charge and there are arrangements in place to help those with the greatest need. Eligibility depends on the patient’s age, whether they are in qualifying full-time education, whether they are pregnant or have recently given birth, or whether they are in receipt of certain benefits or a war pension. Those with sickle cell disease may therefore meet the eligibility criteria for prescription charge exemptions and in receipt of free prescriptions.