The National Kidney Federation (NKF) charity has raised concerns that some kidney transplant recipients are resorting to rationing or skipping their lifesaving immunosuppressant medication.

Immunosuppressant medication helps to prevent a kidney transplant from rejecting. Rejection can lead to a transplant failing, and a patient needing dialysis.

A recent survey by the NKF has shed light on the financial challenges faced by kidney transplant patients in accessing their immunosuppressant medication. The survey aimed to gather transplant recipients' experiences to campaign for improved medication access.

The survey highlighted the disparity in prescription costs across the UK. While residents of Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland benefit from free prescriptions, those in England who are not exempt face a charge of £9.90 per item.

Over 300 kidney transplant recipients participated in the survey and results showed that 16% of respondents reported having a Prescription Pre-payment Certificate, which can help manage and stagger their costs.

A Prescription Pre-payment Certificate (PPC) has an annual cost of £114.50 for an unlimited number of prescriptions. Having a PPC could save you money if you pay for your NHS prescriptions. The certificate covers all your NHS prescriptions for a set price. You will save money if you need more than 3 items in 3 months, or 11 items in 12 months. However, alarmingly, more than 5% of respondents to the NKF survey admitted to reducing their dose of immunosuppressive medication to extend their medication supply. This poses a significant risk to their health and transplant viability.

The average wait for a kidney transplant is 2-3 years, and there are currently over 6,000 kidney patients on the waiting list. Dialysis costs the NHS up to £24,000 per patient each year, and dialysis units are under significant capacity pressure. Patients whose transplant has failed because they could not afford to take their medication as prescribed is alarming and the decision to not address the out of date prescription exemption list is short sighted. People should not be feeling that they have no choice but to risk their graft function and survival by rationing their medications.

The NKF, as a member of the Prescription Charges Coalition, is determined to address this pressing issue. Together with 50 other organisations, who are members of the Coalition, we are advocating for policy changes to ensure that no individual has to compromise their health due to the cost of prescriptions.

This issue remains a critical focus for the NKF, as it strives to prevent transplant recipients’ health being jeopardised by prescription costs.  If you wish to support the NKF in their mission to raise the profile of prescription charges for kidney transplant recipients, please email [email protected] and share your experience.