Prescription charges are set to increase to £9.90 per medication item as of next month under Government plans.
A pharmacy group has slammed the potential decision to raise costs as a “tax on the vulnerable” amid the cost of living crisis.
Janet Morrison, the chief executive of Community Pharmacy England, criticised the decision to charge taxpayers more for vital medications on the NHS.
She explained: “Yet again community pharmacies must be the bearers of bad news as the Government decides to raise the NHS prescription charge.
"As the cost of living continues to put strain on the most vulnerable in society, many patients will have to make unbearable decisions about which medicines they can afford to pay for.
"We remain opposed to the charge: it is a tax on the vulnerable and one which forces pharmacy teams to act as tax collectors on top of the intolerable wider pressures that community pharmacy is facing.”
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Prescription charges are reportedly set to rise next month
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Chair of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) Thorrun Govind said: "This is yet another kick in the teeth for patients already suffering with the cost of living crisis.
"It is a tax on the sick which pharmacists are forced to collect on behalf of the government."
According to Community Pharmacy England, NHS prescriptions charged this month will remain priced at £9.65 per item.
Amendments to the National Health Service (Charges for Drugs and Appliances) Regulations have been laid before Parliament which introduces changes to medication costs.
This impacts NHS prescription charges as well as prescription prepayment certificates (PPCs), including the Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) PPC.
PPCs are purchased by millions of Britons to reduce the overall cost of prescriptions, with people having the option to pay for medication over either a three-month or year-long period.
They are primarily used by individuals who need to take four or more prescription items on a regular basis.
The price of a three-month PPC will become £32.05 under these changes, whilst a 12-month PPC will rise £114.50.
Notably, HRT PPC will also increase to £19.80 for those in need of taking this particular medication.
However, this pre-payment certificate can only be used when a patient is prescribed a listed HRT medicine.
Patients are encouraged to check the NHSBSA website for an up-to-date list of HRT medicines covered by the HRT PPC.
The Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) will implement this change to prescription costs from May 1, 2024.
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Households could pay more towards essential medications as of next month
GETTYHouseholds have been saddled with rising costs in recent years following the Covid-19 pandemic, with prescription charges also rising during this period.
This hike to prescription costs amid widespread discontent over the quality of services being provided by the NHS. Over the last two years, the health service has been struck by industrial action.
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: “Almost nine in ten items are available for free on the NHS in England and we provide a wide range of support to ensure everyone who needs a prescription can afford it.
“Those on a low income, aged over 60 or with qualifying medical conditions like cancer, epilepsy and diabetes all qualify for exemptions, as do children and pregnant women.
“Where charges are in place, it is important prices are regularly updated to ensure the NHS maintains a sustainable business model and can continue to deliver excellent patient care.”