NHS prescription charges in England are set to remain frozen for the second consecutive year, as announced by the Chancellor. This decision ensures that patients will continue to pay £9.90 per item to collect their medication from pharmacies throughout the 2025/26 financial year, a rate that was initially frozen in April of the current year to help mitigate the 'cost of living crisis'.

This ongoing freeze extends beyond single prescription items, encompassing pre-payment certificates (PPCs) as well. A three-month PPC will retain its price of £32.05, while the 12-month certificate will remain at £114.50. Furthermore, the cost of the hormone replacement therapy (HRT) certificate has also been frozen. The move is projected to save patients approximately £12 million next year and could potentially save individuals hundreds of pounds, given that the fee for a single prescription typically increases by around 30p annually.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves emphasized the government's commitment, stating, "No one should put their health at risk because they can't afford their medication, and as the cost of living still puts pressure on households I'm extending the cash freeze on prescription charges." She also reiterated the commitment to improving the NHS, noting that waiting lists have decreased by 230,000 over the past year. Reeves plans to outline further "fair choices" in the upcoming Budget to address waiting lists, the cost of living, and national debt.

England remains the only country within the United Kingdom to impose prescription charges, with Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland having abolished them over a decade ago. While many patients are exempt from paying prescription fees – including those aged 16 to 18 in full-time education, individuals over 60, and those requiring certain drugs like contraception – campaigners argue that the charge represents an "unfair tax on health."

Pharmacy leaders have largely welcomed the freeze but are urging the government to go further by abolishing the charges entirely. Olivier Picard, chairman of the National Pharmacy Association (NPA), articulated their stance: "Many people choose not to collect some or all their prescription medicines because of cost, with potentially dire health consequences." He added that pharmacists, understanding the vital role of medicines, naturally oppose "arbitrary barriers" to access and view the charge as a "tax that especially hits the working poor." The NPA has consistently advocated for free prescription medicines, aligning England with the rest of the UK. Annually, approximately £600 million in revenue is generated from prescription charges in England, which contributes to the delivery of NHS services.

The impact of prescription charges is particularly felt by older demographics. According to charity Age UK, over one in 10 people aged 65 and above in England take at least eight different prescribed medications each week, a figure that rises to nearly one in four for those over 85. The Chancellor is scheduled to make her comprehensive Budget announcement on November 26.