Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many (a) patients and (b) terminally ill patients have been (i) prosecuted under the 1999 Health Act, (ii) fined and (iii) investigated for fraudulently claiming prescription charge exemptions.

The Department has made no assessment of the cost to the public purse of the requirement for patients, including terminally ill patients and patients with type 1 diabetes, to renew their medical exemption certificate every five years.

Between 1 June 2024 and 1 July 2025, 50,330 people received a Penalty Charge Notice after claiming a medical exemption certificate on a National Health Service prescription.

There has been one prosecution in relation to non-payment of NHS prescription charges, which was in 2019.

Data that specifically identifies patients with a terminal illness in relation to prosecutions, fines, or investigations under the 1999 Health Act for fraudulent prescription charge exemptions is not held. Data is recorded based on a qualifying medical condition which entitles someone to apply for a medical exemption certificate.