Written Question·Department of Health and Social Care·UIN 122475

Prescription Drugs: Costs

Tabled: 20 March 2026
Answered: 30 March 2026

Question

John Glen

ConservativeSalisbury

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of reclassifying medicines from prescription-only to over-the-counter on costs to the NHS.

Answer

Dr Zubir Ahmed
The Government supports the reclassification of prescription only medicines (POMs) to over the counter (OTC) medicines, including for cost savings to the National Health Service, where it is safe and appropriate to do so, as this can improve patient acces...

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