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One in two pharmacists say they have seen a rise in people not collecting their prescriptions amid the cost of living crisis.
The findings are from a survey conducted by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS), who say the cost of living crisis is causing people to “ration” their medication.
Prescriptions are free in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, and the RPS is now calling on the government to overhaul the prescription system in England to ensure it “it supports access to medicines for people with long-term conditions at the sharp end of the cost of living crisis.”
Some pharmacists have personally funded patient’s prescription charges
They survey also found that in the last six months, half of pharmacists have seen an increase in the number of patients asking which of their prescribed medicines they can “do without” due to affordability issues.
Two in three also said there has been an increase in the number of patients asking if there is a cheaper, over-the-counter substitute for the medicine they had been prescribed.
The cost of living crisis is also causing patients to lash out at pharmacists, with half saying they have received abuse from patients when they are reminded they have to pay prescription charges.
Shockingly, just under one in seven (14%) pharmacists said they have personally funded patients’ prescriptions themselves when they are unable to pay.
Reducing access to medicines leads to poorer health which offsets gained income from prescription charges
RPS Chair for England, Ms Thorrun Govind, said the RPS is “deeply concerned that people are having to make choices about their health based on their ability to pay”.
“No one should have to make choices about rationing their medicines and no one should be faced with a financial barrier to getting the medicines they need.
“Prescription charges are an unfair tax on health which disadvantages working people on lower incomes who are already struggling with food and energy bills.
“Reducing access to medicines leads to poorer health, time off work and can result in admissions to hospital, the cost of which must be set against any income gained from prescription charges,” she added.
RPS wants to see prescription charges abolished
While some people are eligible for free prescriptions (including those over the age of 60, those on income-related benefits and people with a medical exemption certificate), most people have to pay £9.35 per item.
The RPS now want to see the prescription charge abolished for people with long-term conditions so medicines are free to access in England, just like they are in the rest of the UK.
“Prescriptions have been free for people in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland for many years. We urgently need an overhaul of the system in England to ensure it supports access to medicines for people with long-term conditions at the sharp end of the cost of living crisis,” Ms Govind concludes.