There is an interesting dialogue going on over at ConHome about Welsh Tories wanting to bring back prescription charges. It is I believe however missing the main point.
Prescription charges for some people [low paid, diabetics, pensioners] should not be brought back in order to raise money. They should be brought back for everyone to help reverse our dependency culture and reinforce the message that we need to be in more control of our own healthcare, including being responsible when obtaining medication.
We argued for a nominal charge of £1 in 2020health's report last year: 'Our health, our money, our say' (sorry image slightly blurry, it's not your eyes!)
To summarise the argument for this:
- Unused medication in our bathroom cabinets cost the taxpayer (a conservative estimate) about £800m a year - 10% of the annual medicine budget.
- Even for the average pensioner on 38 prescriptions a year, the weekly cost would work out at an affordable 70p per week. Judging from the mountains of repeat medications piled up in the homes of patients I have visited, it wouldn't even come to that.
- A small charge would encourage forethought about for example genuine need, stockpiling of medication, whether the GP should be consulted for a minor ailment that could be dealt with by a pharmacist or self-care etc.
- The current situation in England is unfair - if you have Aids you have to pay for your meds; if you have diabetes you don't. Where's the logic?
If we are starting afresh and being honest about healthcare, this is a move to level the playing field. We've had means tested prescription charges since 1951. A responsible way forward is to encourage each of us to think about what meds we need and the most appropriate place to get them. A free-for-all system would result in just that, and the wastage bill would soar.
