HC Deb 05 March 1991 vol 187 cc126-7
9. Mr. Sumberg

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received to extend the exemption from NHS prescription charges on medical grounds; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Dorrell

The Department has received regular correspondence on exemption from prescription charges since 1968 when prescription charges were reintroduced by the Wilson Government.

Mr. Sumberg

Is not it about time that we considered the very strict criteria that apply to those exemptions? In particular, will my hon. Friend consider exempting treatment for Parkinson's disease? Parkinson's disease is a chronic condition, the patients always deteriorate and a very high drug bill is required to treat it. It is about time that we reconsidered exemptions for Parkinson's disease and for one or two other diseases.

Mr. Dorrell

My hon. Friend has been assiduous in pressing the case for Parkinson's disease victims. However, the case that he must answer is that to take the course that he espouses would mean channelling resources to people who are, by definition, not those on the lowest incomes. At the moment, any Parkinson's disease sufferer on a low income receives free prescriptions. When discussing prescription charges, we should remember that individual prescription charges are now paid on only one item in every five that are dispensed.

Mr. Eastham

Is it not a fact that low-income families are suffering real financial hardship because when they take their prescriptions to the chemists those prescriptions cost more than £3 each while at one time under a Labour Government the cost was 20p?

Mr. Dorrell

Low-income families are entitled to exemption. In 1979 under Labour, two items out of every five rather than one in five carried a prescription charge. In 1968 the figure was three in five. The number of prescriptions carrying charges has been falling sharply since Labour left office.

Mr. Paice

Does my hon. Friend agree that one of the most important facilities for people with constant demands on drugs is the ability to' buy an annual prescription under which the maximum charge for anyone in any one year, however serious the problem,, is about £40?

Mr: Dorrell

My hon. Friend is exactly right. The season ticket system is designed to address the problem of those people who have a regular need for drugs and for whom an individual prescription charge would represent a significant burden. No one need pay more than the total cost of the season ticket for an individual drug need.