It is the view of the National Kidney Federation that prescriptions without charge should be available to all renal patients. This view is based on the fact that medication is an essential part of renal therapy and non-provision of medication poses a very real threat to life.

Patients on low income must not be deterred from obtaining their medication.

NOTE

The Department of Health have confirmed that patients can get free NHS prescriptions if they have one of the medical conditions listed in regulation 10 of the NHS (Charges for Drugs and Appliances) Regulations 2015, and they hold a valid medical exemption (Medex) certificate. The regulation states that a person is entitled to apply for a medical exemption certificate if they have a permanent fistula (including caecostomy, colostomy, laryngostomy or ileostomy) requiring continuous surgical dressing or an appliance.

Individuals can apply for a Medex certificate by asking their doctor for a FP92A form. Their GP, hospital or service doctor, or at the GP’s discretion, a member of the GP’s practice who can access medical records, will sign the form on the patient’s behalf to confirm they have the condition. It is a matter of the doctor’s clinical judgement as to whether a patient’s condition fits in to the criteria listed.