Arthritis Care: Government must honour prescription promise

Arthritis Care, together with a group of leading health charities, has called on the Government to honour its commitment to abolish prescription charges for people with long-term conditions in England.

While today's abolition of prescription charges for people with cancer is a cause for celebration, millions of people with other long-term conditions, including arthritis, will have to continue paying for their medicines. 

Moreover, the annual increase in prescription charges only adds to the difficulties that many people already face in obtaining the medicines they need.

In a time of economic hardship, people with long-term conditions are bearing an unacceptable burden of prescription charges, with research showing that around 800,000 people every year risk their health by not getting all the medicines they need because they cannot afford them. 

For many people with arthritis, managing their condition means regularly using a variety of prescription treatments. This can be an expensive burden and one which will often be with them for a large proportion of their life.

People with long-term conditions cannot afford any delay. We urge the Government to keep its promise and make people with long-term conditions in England exempt from paying prescription charges before the next General Election.

If you need support and information on this or any issue regarding your arthritis, please call our  free and confidential helpline on 0808 800 4050, open 10am-4pm weekdays.