Health Minister Lawrie Hooper says reform is needed to prescription payments to create a fairer and more financially sustainable system.
Mr Hooper was asked about extending free prescriptions to cancer patients.
The Lib Vannin leader said the DHSC is currently reviewing prescription charges and exemptions with the island seeing a “continuing and unsustainable rise in the cost of drugs dispensed in the community”.
He said that the current list of prescription exemptions “also favours a number of medical conditions over others, which creates inequity and unfairness”.
At the moment fewer than 5% of prescription items incur charges, and this contributes less than £1 million towards the overall £18 million annual community drugs bill.
Health and Social Care Minister Lawrie Hooper
Conditional
People living with some conditions do receive free prescriptions, while others, including those with cancer, are required to pay.
Mr Hooper said: “Our aim is to reform the policy to be more equitable, while also helping to ensure that the escalating cost of drugs can continue to be met.
“This includes reducing the current exemptions list to focus on supporting those who are unable to pay, rather than an age or specific condition. This would ensure that going forward all medical conditions would be treated the same.”
The minister added that people can cap their costs by saying for a certificate costing £54 for a car, or £19 for four months.
He said his department encourages anyone who pays for regular prescriptions to “see if they meet the criteria for an existing exemption or to purchase a pre-payment certificate to reduce the impact of the cost”.
2 Comments