Free prescriptions plea for CF patients

CHANCELLOR Jeremy Hunt has been urged to give a compassionate spring Budget – by finally granting free prescriptions to sufferers with rare genetic diseases such as cystic fibrosis.

A year ago the Daily Express and the Cystic Fibrosis Trust handed in a petition at 10 Downing Street, asking the Government to finally make CF sufferers exempt from paying for their medicines.

The current prescription charge is £9.65 per item.

Inequity

In 1968 chronic illnesses such as diabetes and epilepsy were included in a list of conditions warranting free prescriptions, but many rare genetic diseases like CF missed out – and the list has never been updated.

Just adding CF would only cost taxpayers £279,000-a-year – against the Department for Health and Social Care’s £160billion annual budget.

In his letter to Mr Hunt David Ramsden, Chief Executive of Cystic Fibrosis Trust, wrote: “Your spring Budget presents a crucial

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opportunity to rectify the inequity – one way is to allocate funding for the prescription pre-payment certificate to the small group of people with CF who are ineligible for exemption.

“This would likely entail an annual expenditure of around £280,000. I implore you to dismantle the barrier of prescription charges for people with CF in England.”

Cystic fibrosis, a lifelimiting genetic condition where mucus clogs up the airways, was excluded in 1968 as there was no treatment except antibiotics – and patients’ life expectancy was just 30.

But new NHS wonder drugs such as Kaftrio are adding decades to lives.

The Department of Health and Social Care said: “Those with long-term conditions or on a low income can apply for prescription charge exemptions or support through the NHS Low Income Scheme.

“Patients can also buy pre-payment certificates to cover all prescription items for just over £2 per week.”