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Prescriptions Charges and Exemptions
Extensive exemption and remission arrangements protect those likely to have difficulty in paying charges (NHS prescription and dental charges, optical and hospital travel costs).
The NHS prescription charge is a flat-rate amount which successive Governments have thought it reasonable to charge for those who can afford to pay for their medicines. Prescription prepayment certificates (PPCs) offer real savings for people who need extensive medication.
NHS Charges
For 2026/27, the charges are:
Prescription charge: £9.90 per item
3-month PPC: £32.05 – cost-effective if you need 4 or more items in 3 months
12-month PPC: £114.50 – cost-effective if you need 12 or more items in a year
HRT Prescription Prepayment Certificate:
A dedicated HRT PPC is available to reduce the cost of certain hormone replacement therapy medicines:
12-month HRT PPC - £19.80; this will save you money if you need more than 2 HRT medicines in 12 months
Find out more about the prescription prepayment certificate.
When Prescriptions Are Free
You do not pay for prescriptions if they are:
- Administered at a hospital or NHS walk-in centre
- Prescribed as contraceptives
- Personally administered by a GP or supplied under a Patient Group Direction (PGD)
- Supplied at a hospital or clinic for treatment of:
- Sexually transmitted infections
- Tuberculosis
- A mental disorder for patients subject to a supervised community treatment order
In addition, many people qualify for free prescriptions through exemptions (e.g. age, pregnancy, certain medical conditions, or low income), meaning the majority of NHS prescriptions are dispensed free of charge.