Charity calls for end to “prescription poverty”

Prescription charges are too expensive for some lower-income people, causing them to do without the treatment they need, a charity has claimed.

Citizens Advice has reiterated its calls to the Department of Health to review prescription charging in Britain and claims that the longer it stalls, the more people are going without their medication.

David Harker, chief executive of the organisation, said despite the government recognising the link between poverty and sickness, it has failed to act.

People in Scotland and Wales have benefited from such help and it is “simply unacceptable” that England is falling behind, he continued.

Mr Harker added: “People are still failing to collect prescriptions because they can’t afford it. It is essential that there is now urgent action to finally eliminate prescription poverty in England.”

The NHS reports that during 2006, the net ingredient cost of all prescriptions dispensed rose by more than three per cent to £8,197 million.