§ 52. Mr. Leadbitterasked the Minister of Health if he will add to the list of regulations covering exemption from prescription charges categories to include prolonged treatment exceeding three months, and cases where more than one member of a family is making a claim.
§ Mr. K. RobinsonNo.
§ 53. Mr. Loveysasked the Minister of Health in view of the difficulties arising in the administration of the present scheme, when he will announce details of his intended long-term scheme for exemption certificates from prescription charges to cover those who are chronically sick but who do not come within the categories at present qualifying for exemption.
§ Mr. K. RobinsonUnder the new powers conferred by the Health Services and Public Health Act, 1968 the Secretary of State for Scotland and I have to-day laid regulations which provide for the issue of prepayment certificates on payment of a fee of £1 10s. for a six-month certificate or £2 15s. for a 12-month certificate. A patient who has obtained one of these certificates will secure exemption by the same procedure as holders of existing exemption certificates.
These arrangements will help patients who need frequent prescriptions but are not otherwise exempt. The new certificates can be used from 1st November.
Application forms are now available in all post offices and a publicity campaign over the next fortnight should ensure that patients, including hospital out-patients, who might benefit from these arrangements are aware of them.
§ Mr. David Howellasked the Minister of Health, by what date he hopes to complete arrangements for the issue of certificates of exemption from prescription 83W charges to cover those patients who do not come within any of the existing categories entitled to exemption; and what arrangements for compensation will be made for the period from the date of reintroduction of prescription charges to the first issue of exemption certificates.
§ Mr. Leadbitterasked the Minister of Health what further exemptions he now proposes to make from prescription charges; and what loss of revenue these will involve.
§ Mr. K. RobinsonI would refer the, hon. Members to my reply to-day to the hon. Member for Chichester (Mr. Loveys). The arrangements there described are not expected to affect significantly the Government's original estimate of the extent to which the exempted categories would reduce savings resulting from the reintroduction of charges. There is no provision for retrospective exemption or retrospective repayment of charges.
The Regulations also provide for the exemption of Service disablement pensioners in respect of treatment for disablements attributable to service between the world wars. These pensioners at present pay the charges and claim a refund.
§ Mr. Leadbitterasked the Minister of Health what is now the estimated cost of introducing and implementing prescription charges.
§ Mr. K. RobinsonThere are difficulties in isolating and apportioning some relevant items of expenditure but I still expect the total administrative cost in the current financial year to be between £½ million and £¾ million. This includes the cost of arrangements to make sure that everyone understands what charges have to be paid, who may claim exemption or refund and how to do so, and that everyone knows about the availability of the prepayment certificates provided for in the Regulations laid before the House today.
§ Mr. Leadbitterasked the Minister of Health what further discussions he has had with the National Pharmaceutical Union on prescription charges; and if he will make a statement.
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§ Mr. K. RobinsonThe subjects covered in recent discussions and correspondence have included remuneration, the redesign of the declaration on the back of the prescription form, and other methods of improving the operation of the present arrangements. A further discussion is taking place today.