Dear Matt,

5.4 million people in the UK are currently receiving treatment for asthma and 3 people die every day from this disease, with 2 of those deaths entirely preventable. Access to treatment is literally a matter of life and death for asthma sufferers yet asthma medication is not on the NHS Free Prescriptions Exemption List.

Around half of asthma sufferers who are not currently exempt based on age or another basis have to pay for crucial prescriptions for their lifelong disease. Quite literally they have to pay to breathe, and many simply can’t afford it. Financial costs can be over £400 annually and 76% of people with asthma have found it difficult to pay for their prescriptions. Over half have, at some point, cut back on their medication due to costs, putting their own lives in danger. According to a survey by Asthma UK, 13% of respondents had to go to the hospital as a consequence of skipping their medication. This has knock on financial implications and free prescriptions could result in an estimated £43,720,621 of savings and a 75% reduction in asthma-related emergency room admissions.

When the original Free Prescriptions Exemption List was created over 50 years ago, asthma treatments were limited and ineffective. Whilst that has radically changed, asthma sufferers still face an undue burden compared to those with other lifelong conditions.  It’s time for an urgent review of the prescription exemptions and in particular to stop penalising asthma sufferers – nobody should have to pay to breathe.

Yours sincerely,