Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent discussions his Department has had with NHS England on expanding medical exemption criteria to include people with multiple sclerosis dependent on long-term medication.

There are currently no plans to expand the medical exemption criteria to include people with multiple sclerosis dependent on long-term medication, and no recent discussions have been held with NHS England on this matter.

People with multiple sclerosis may be eligible for exemption from National Health Service prescription charges for another reason. Eligibility depends on the patient’s age, whether they are in qualifying full-time education, whether they are pregnant or have recently given birth, whether they have a qualifying medical condition, and whether they are in receipt of certain benefits or a war pension.

People on low incomes may also qualify for help through the NHS Low Income Scheme, and those who pay prescription charges regularly may be able to reduce costs by buying a prescription prepayment certificate.