How much do NHS prescriptions cost?

In England, each NHS prescription item costs £9.90 (as of April 2024). In Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, all NHS prescriptions are free. Many people in England are also exempt from charges — including those under 16, over 60, pregnant women, people on certain benefits, and those with specific medical conditions.

Who gets free NHS prescriptions in England?

You get free prescriptions in England if you are under 16 (or under 19 in full-time education), aged 60 or over, pregnant or had a baby in the last 12 months, have a specified medical condition (diabetes, hypothyroidism, epilepsy, cancer, and others) with a medical exemption certificate, receive certain benefits (Universal Credit below income threshold, Income Support, Pension Credit), are an NHS inpatient, or hold a valid prepayment certificate.

What is a prescription prepayment certificate (PPC)?

A prescription prepayment certificate lets you get unlimited NHS prescriptions for a fixed cost. A 3-month PPC costs £32.05 and a 12-month PPC costs £114.50 (frozen for 2026/27). If you need more than 3 prescriptions in 3 months or more than 12 in a year, a PPC saves money. You can buy one online from the NHS Business Services Authority or by calling 0300 330 1341. You can spread the annual cost over 10 monthly Direct Debit payments of £11.45.

NHS Prescription Costs

How much prescriptions cost, who gets them free, and how to save with a prepayment certificate.

📋 Source: NHS England prescription charge (£9.90, April 2024). NHS Business Services Authority — PPC pricing. Medical exemption conditions per NHS regulations.
Your doctor or healthcare provider knows your history and circumstances — always follow their personalised advice over general information.

🇬🇧 England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland

What do prescriptions cost?

Country	Cost per item	Notes
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 England	£9.90	Per item. Many exemptions — see below.
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Scotland	Free	All prescriptions free since April 2011.
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 Wales	Free	All prescriptions free since April 2007.
🇬🇧 Northern Ireland	Free	All prescriptions free since April 2010.

The charge is per item on the prescription, not per condition. If your GP prescribes 3 items, you pay 3 × £9.90 = £29.70 (unless exempt).

Medical conditions that qualify for free prescriptions

If you have one of these conditions, you can apply for a medical exemption certificate (MedEx). This covers all your prescriptions, not just those related to the qualifying condition:

Diabetes (requiring medication)

Hypothyroidism

Epilepsy

Hypoparathyroidism

Addison's disease

Myasthenia gravis

Diabetes insipidus

Hypopituitarism

Cancer and its treatment

Permanent fistula requiring dressing

How to apply: Ask your GP to sign a FP92A form (available at the surgery). Once processed, you receive a MedEx card valid for 5 years. Show it at the pharmacy when collecting prescriptions.

Note: Conditions like asthma, high blood pressure, and depression do not qualify for a medical exemption — even though they require ongoing medication. If you have one of these, consider a PPC instead.

Prescription prepayment certificate (PPC)

If you don't qualify for free prescriptions but need regular medication, a PPC caps your costs:

£32.05

3-month PPC

Saves money if you need 4+ items in 3 months

£114.50

12-month PPC

Saves money if you need 12+ items in a year

How it works: Unlimited NHS prescriptions for the duration of the certificate. You can pay the annual PPC in 10 monthly Direct Debit instalments of £11.45.

Buy online: NHS BSA — Buy a PPC → or call 0300 330 1341.

Tip: You can backdate a PPC by up to 1 month. If you've already paid for prescriptions this month, apply now and claim a refund for those items.

Should I get a PPC?

How many prescription items do you get per month?

If you paid for a prescription you should have got free, you can claim a refund within 3 months. Ask the pharmacy for an NHS refund form (FP57) or contact the NHS Business Services Authority on 0300 330 1341.

Keep your prescription receipt — you'll need it as proof of payment.

All NHS contraception is free for everyone in England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland — regardless of age or exemption status. This includes the pill, patches, implants, IUDs, condoms from sexual health clinics, and emergency contraception from your GP or sexual health clinic.

However, if your GP writes a standard prescription for the pill and you collect it from a pharmacy, you may be charged £9.90 unless otherwise exempt. To avoid this, ask your GP to issue it on an FP10 contraceptive form (which is free) or get it from a sexual health clinic directly.

If you're on a low income but don't receive qualifying benefits, you can apply for an NHS Low Income Scheme (LIS) certificate. This can give you full or partial help with prescription costs, dental charges, eye tests, and travel to hospital.

Apply using form HC1, available from Jobcentre Plus, NHS hospitals, or online from the NHS BSA. Processing takes about 3 weeks.

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