Prescription charges

That this House welcomes the latest report from the Prescription Charges Coalition entitled Continuing to pay the price published in March 2023 which demonstrates that vital medicine is unaffordable for many people living with long-term health conditions in England and that there has been an increase in the number of people taking time off work because they are unable to afford their medicine; is concerned that the report shows that the NHS services which people rely on are overstretched; restates its commitment to the NHS as a universal service free at the point of need and its belief that access to medication is a fundamental right; is deeply concerned that increased NHS waiting times are likely to leave people with long-term conditions relying on medication longer to manage their pain and health conditions; expresses its concern that some patients are not collecting prescriptions that they need because of the cost; and calls on the Government to scrap prescription charges.