People being treated for cancer in England will be eligible for free prescriptions from 1st April and can apply for free prescriptions from today.

The new scheme, announced by the Prime Minister in September last year, abolishes NHS prescription charges for everyone undergoing treatment for cancer, the effects of cancer, or the effects of cancer treatment.
Up to 150,000 patients already diagnosed with cancer are expected to benefit, and may save £100 each year in prescription charges.

All cancer patients are entitled to apply for a 5-year exemption certificate, which will entitle them to all their NHS prescriptions free of charge, not just those relating to cancer. The certificate can be renewed as many times as necessary and will not have to be returned if the patient's condition changes.

Application forms can be collected from GP surgeries and oncology clinics from today and must be countersigned by the patient's GP, hospital doctor or service doctor. Cancer patients will be able to apply for a medical exemption certificate by asking their doctor for the relevant application form. A GP, hospital or service doctor will need to countersign the form. The form will then be sent to the NHS Business Services Authority (BSA), who will issue an exemption certificate. The patient can then show their exemption certificate to the pharmacist as proof of exemption. The medical exemption certificate will last for 5 years, once the certificate has expired a new application can be made. The NHS BSA will send a reminder to the patient before the expiry date.

Applications received by 24th March will be processed in time to be used for 1st April. Patients who do not receive their certificate in time may have any prescription charges they have paid since the 1st April refunded.

Public Health Minister, Dawn Primarolo said:

""Everyone undergoing treatment for cancer, the effects of cancer, or the effects of cancer treatment is entitled to free prescriptions from 1st April. I would urge patients to make an appointment with their GP from this week to talk about applying for their exemption certificate."

Ciaran Devane, Chief Executive of Macmillan Cancer Support, said:

"We are delighted the Government has listened and abolished prescription charges for cancer patients. This was absolutely the right thing to do. Cancer not only threatens your life, but can also make you poor. Free prescriptions will transform the lives of thousands of people living with cancer who were struggling to pay for drugs."

The scheme will be extended to include all patients with long-term conditions in due course. This will take around 5 million patients, all with high ongoing prescription costs, out of charges. A review of how to bring this measure in, led by Professor Ian Gilmore, President of the Royal College of Physicians, is currently consulting patients, the public, patient representative bodies, clinicians and healthcare organisations.

Source: Department of health