The Hibbs Lupus Trust along with fellow members of the Prescription Charges Coalition are calling for an emergency suspension of prescription charges with immediate effect for all people with long-term conditions in England, to aid the efforts of Public Health England in delaying the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19).
The government’s coronavirus action plan encourages the public to undertake social distancing to delay the spread of the virus. As part of this, the government is advising the public to get a months’ worth of their prescribed medicines to avoid multiple trips to the pharmacy.
At a time when it is critical for everyone to be taking the medication they need to stay well, we urge the government to implement this simple measure to aid medication adherence by patients with long-term conditions.
Prescription Charges Coalition research shows that the charges discourage people from collecting the vital medication they need to stay well. A third of people with long-term conditions skip collecting their medication because of the cost.
Simple measures like removing prescription charges with immediate effect could make all the difference for this vulnerable at-risk group.
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