RCPharm calls for prescription charges to be abolished following new poll
Published: 22 October 2026
A survey from the National Pharmacy Association shows that one in ten people in England went without a medicine in the past year because of cost concerns. In response, Amandeep Doll, the Royal College of Pharmacy’s Director for England, said:
“These findings are worrying and reflect what pharmacists know all too well. Every day, pharmacists are asked by patients who cannot afford all the medicines on their prescription which ones they could ‘do without’. Patients should not have to make choices which involve rationing their medicines.
“Prescription charges are an unfair tax on health. They risk exacerbating health inequalities by creating financial barriers to accessing essential medicines, particularly for people on lower incomes and those managing long-term conditions.
“There is no good reason why patients in England should face this barrier when prescriptions are already free in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. With the Budget next week, the government has an opportunity to put an end to this outdated and complex system and abolish prescription charges in England.”
Read more news stories.
Read our policy on prescription charges in England.
Related news
Prescription charge price hike harms patients, says RPS
This news story was published when the organisation was the Royal Pharmaceutical Society. Responding to the news that prescription charges in England will rise from £9.65 per item to £9.90 from 1 May 2024, and the 12-month Prescription Prepayment Certificate will also increase from £111.60 to £114.50, Tase Oputu, Chair of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) in England, said: "Amid an ongoing cost of living crisis, the rise in prescription charges in England will hit working people on low incomes the hardest. “Every day pharmacists are asked by patients who are unable to afford all the items in their prescription which ones they could 'do without'. Patients shouldn’t have to make choices which involve rationing their medicines. No one should face a financial barrier to getting medicines which a health professional has prescribed as necessary. “The consequences of the relentless rise in prescription charges are well-known. If you can’t afford your medicines, your condition can worsen which leads to poor health, lost productivity and increases the risk of hospital admission, piling pressure on the NHS. “Prescriptions are free in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. If they were free in England too then no one would have to worry about payment decisions affecting their health. “In a general election year, I hope that political parties can commit to properly reviewing this complex and unjust system. It is high time this stealth tax was abolished.” A recent survey of pharmacists by RPS and the Pharmacists' Defence Association showed that more than one-third of pharmacists (35%) said they have seen an increase in patients declining prescriptions in the past 12 months. The vast majority of respondents (97%) have seen cases where patients decline some of the medicines on a prescription owing to cost, one-quarter (26%) of whom said they saw this often. Prescription charges are one of the key issues in our general election manifesto. Find out how you can support the campaign at www.rpharms.com/manifesto. Read more RCPharm news stories.
College urges MPs to put pharmacy at the heart of NHS reform
The Royal College of Pharmacy has urged MPs to ensure pharmacy expertise is embedded at the heart of NHS reforms, warning that proposed structural changes to the NHS in England must not overlook the profession’s central role in improving access to care, prevention and medicines optimisation. Measures in the legislation include the abolition of NHS England and transfer of its functions to either the secretary of state or integrated care boards, the abolition of Healthwatch England and local Healthwatch, and enabling the creation of a single patient record. Key issues highlighted in our evidence include: NHS reforms Pharmacy’s role in delivering the ten-year health plan, supporting patient access to primary care, boosting prevention and managing the growing cost of long-term conditions; The importance of pharmacy system leadership to deliver best value from medicines for patients and the health service; The abolition of NHS England and the need for policymaking to be shaped by pharmacy expertise. Improving patient care Support for the single patient record, alongside safeguards to ensure public trust and confidence; Retaining independent voices, such as Healthwatch and the Health Services Safety Investigations Body, to support patient safety and service improvement; Tackling health inequalities caused by prescription charges. Workforce Key workforce issues, including support for staff wellbeing, protected time for professional development and equal access to the Leaning Support Fund for pharmacy students; Measures to support workforce transformation and assurance. RCPharm England Chair Prof Mahendra Patel OBE said: “The Health Bill presents a real opportunity to shape how care is provided for patients in the decades ahead. “As MPs scrutinise the Bill, pharmacy teams must be recognised as central to delivering the ten-year health plan. They already increase access to care closer to home and support prevention strategies. “We are urging the government to ensure pharmacy expertise remains embedded in decision-making, so patients can get the right care, in the right place, at the right time." Read the submission. Read more news stories.