Add Crohn’s & Colitis to the NHS prescription exemption list

Background

Add Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis (IBD) to the Medical Exemption Certificate list in England so people with lifelong inflammatory bowel disease can receive free NHS prescriptions for essential ongoing medication.

Additional details

Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis are lifelong, incurable autoimmune conditions requiring ongoing medication to prevent severe flare-ups, hospitalisation and surgery. Stopping treatment due to cost puts patients at risk and increases NHS burden. Despite this, IBD is not on the exemption list, which has not been meaningfully updated since 1968. It should reflect modern medical understanding and protect patients from financial barriers to essential care.

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