Increasing numbers of people with chronic conditions such as diabetes are being fined by the NHS for claiming free prescriptions because they do not have the appropriate paperwork. Although people in England aged 18–60 years are entitled to receive free insulin and medications to manage their diabetes, many are not aware that, since 2002, they have required a valid medical exemption certificate, which needs renewing every 5 years, to make the claim.
The responsibility for checking the validity of payment exemption was transferred to the NHS Business Services Authority (BSA), who use a more thorough checking system, in late 2014. Many patients, and indeed pharmacists, were unaware of the new rules, and the BSA has begun to issue fines of up to £100, plus the cost of the prescription, to people who so not have a valid certificate.
Barbara Young, Chief Executive of Diabetes UK, said: “We are deeply concerned that the NHS seems to be fining increasing numbers of people with diabetes for not having a valid medical exemption certificate who have not been informed about the need to have one and to keep it updated. This is a policy designed to tackle fraud but because of the poor way it has been implemented it has resulted in the unfair fining of people with a lifelong health condition. It is unacceptable and needs to change.” The charity has called for an amnesty on fines for people with diabetes until the need for a medical exemption certificate has been properly communicated by the NHS BSA and pharmacies.
A BSA spokeswoman said: “It remains the patient’s own responsibility to check their entitlement before claiming free prescriptions.
“To be clear, it is written in regulation that it is the exemption certificate that entitles a patient to free prescriptions, not the medical condition alone.”
Click to read the full story at BBC News and at Diabetes UK.
