§ Mr. BatisteTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list all chronic illnesses which are readily indentifiable and require life-long medication.
§ Dr. MawhinneyThe definition of which illnesses are chronic and which require lifelong medication are matters of clinical judgment, depending in part on the individual patient's condition.
There are a small number of conditions for which lifelong medication is recognised as essential and for which there is exemption from prescription charges. The limited list of these specific medical conditions was drawn up in 1968 with representatives of the profession and updated in 1983.
The conditions are as follows:
- a permanent fistula which requires continuous surgical dressing or an appliance;
- Diabetes mellitus;
- Myxoedema;
- Hypoparathyroidism;
- Diabetes insipidus or other form of hypopituitarism;
- Addison's disease or other form of hypoadrenalism;
- Myasthenia gravis
- Epilepsy for which one requires continuous anti-convulsive therapy;
a continuing physical disability which prevents one from leaving home without the help of another person.