Source · Select Committees · Health and Social Care Committee
Recommendation 20
20
Accepted in Part
Paragraph: 108
Provide free over-the-counter medication for low-income patients through Pharmacy First scheme.
Recommendation
To avoid patients continuing to use GPs for support that could be offered in a community pharmacy setting because of concerns about the affordability of over-the- counter medication, we recommend that such medication is free for people on low incomes, as part of the Pharmacy First scheme.
Government Response Summary
The government partially accepts, clarifying that prescription-only medications supplied via Pharmacy First are free for those with existing exemptions. However, they refer to a 2018 report which concluded that providing over-the-counter medication free of charge would not offer value for money.
Paragraph Reference:
108
Government Response
Accepted in Part
HM Government
Accepted in Part
Partially Accept There is no charge connected to accessing Pharmacy First for support on one of the seven specified conditions. If the outcome of a Pharmacy First consultation is a supply of a prescription only medication for one of the seven conditions and the individual is exempt from paying a prescription charge (including through the NHS Low Income Scheme) the medication would already be supplied free of charge. If the individual is not exempt from paying prescription charges, they will be charged for this prescription medication as they would if they had consulted their GP. NHS England has explored how to deliver the best value from the NHS spend on medicines. This included the prescribing or supply of over-the-counter medications. The report published in 2018, here, recommended that it would not provide value for money for the taxpayer to provide over-the-counter medication free of charge.