How much is an NHS prescription?
In England, the charge for an NHS prescription is £9.90 per item from 1 May 2025. Prescriptions are free in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Many people in England are also exempt from charges, and you may be able to save money with a prepayment certificate if you need regular medication.
The NHS prescription charge in England
When you get a prescription from a GP, nurse, or other healthcare professional in England, you will usually need to pay a standard charge when you collect it from the pharmacy. This fee is set by the government and is a contribution towards the cost of your medicine and the wider NHS.
It’s important to remember that the charge is applied per item on the prescription form, not per form. If your GP prescribes three different medicines on a single form, you will have to pay the charge three times. For example, three items would cost £29.70 (£9.90 x 3).
This charge only applies to prescriptions dispensed in England. The rules are different in other parts of the UK.
Prescriptions in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
The prescription charging system can be a source of confusion if you move or work across the UK's home nations. The rule is simple: charges are based on where your prescription is dispensed, not where it was written.
- Scotland: NHS prescriptions have been free for everyone since 2011.
- Wales: NHS prescriptions have been free for everyone since 2007.
- Northern Ireland: NHS prescriptions have been free for everyone since 2010.
If you are an English resident and take an English prescription to be dispensed at a pharmacy in Wales, for example, you will not be charged. Conversely, if a Welsh resident gets their prescription dispensed at a pharmacy in England, they will be expected to pay the English prescription charge unless they qualify for an exemption under English rules.
Who is exempt from prescription charges?
A significant number of people in England do not have to pay for their prescriptions. You are entitled to free NHS prescriptions if, at the time the prescription is dispensed, you:
- Are aged 60 or over
- Are under 16 years old
- Are aged 16, 17 or 18 and in full-time education
- Are pregnant or have had a baby in the previous 12 months and have a valid maternity exemption certificate (MatEx)
- Have a specific medical condition and have a valid medical exemption certificate (MedEx)
- Have a continuing physical disability that prevents you from going out without help from another person and have a valid medical exemption certificate (MedEx)
- Hold a valid war pension exemption certificate and the prescription is for your accepted disability
- Are an NHS inpatient
You are also entitled to free prescriptions if you or your partner receive certain benefits, such as Income Support, income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, or Universal Credit (if you meet the earnings criteria). You can also get help through the NHS Low Income Scheme; if you qualify for full help, you'll receive an HC2 certificate which entitles you to free prescriptions.
Medical exemption certificates (MedEx)
You can get a medical exemption certificate if you have one of several conditions, including cancer, diabetes, epilepsy requiring continuous medication, and certain thyroid deficiencies. The list is quite specific, so it's essential not to assume you are exempt. You can find the full list of qualifying conditions on the NHS website. To apply for a MedEx, ask your GP for an FP92A form.
Maternity exemption certificates (MatEx)
If you're pregnant or have had a baby in the last year, you are entitled to free prescriptions and NHS dental treatment. To claim this, you need a MatEx certificate, which your doctor, midwife or health visitor can apply for on your behalf. The certificate is valid until 12 months after your baby's due date.
It is your responsibility to check if you are entitled to free prescriptions. If you claim when you are not exempt, you could face a penalty charge of up to £100, so it's always best to check your eligibility on the GOV.UK or NHS websites if you're unsure.
Saving money with a Prescription Prepayment Certificate (PPC)
If you don't qualify for an exemption but need multiple prescriptions, a Prescription Prepayment Certificate (PPC) could save you a significant amount of money. Think of it as a 'season ticket' for your medicines. You pay a one-off fee that covers all the NHS prescriptions you need within a certain period, no matter how many items you require.
There are two types of PPC available:
| Certificate Type | Cost | When it saves you money |
|---|---|---|
| 3-month PPC | £32.05 | If you need 4 or more prescribed items in 3 months |
| 12-month PPC | £114.50 | If you need 12 or more prescribed items in a year |
As you can see, the 12-month PPC becomes cheaper than paying individually as soon as you need one item per month. If you need two items per month, the annual cost would be £237.60 (£9.90 x 24), but with a 12-month PPC, you would pay just £114.50 – a saving of over £123.
You can buy a PPC online via the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) website, by phone, or at some registered pharmacies. You can choose to pay for the 12-month certificate in ten monthly direct debit instalments.
The special certificate for Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)
In recognition of the long-term nature of menopause treatment, the government introduced a specific PPC for Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) in April 2023.
An HRT PPC costs £19.80 and is valid for 12 months. It covers an unlimited number of listed HRT prescription items during that period. This is equivalent to the cost of two single prescription charges, so if you are prescribed HRT more than twice a year, this certificate will save you money.
However, it's crucial to understand that this PPC only covers eligible HRT medicines. If you are also prescribed other items for different conditions, you would have to pay the standard charge for those. In this situation, you would need to calculate whether a standard 3-month or 12-month PPC would be more cost-effective than buying an HRT PPC and paying for your other items separately.
A worked example: Deciding on a PPC
Let's consider a Band 5 nurse working 30 hours a week on a busy ward. They are 35, do not have any qualifying medical conditions, and are not on income-related benefits, so they are not exempt from prescription charges.
They have recently been diagnosed with a non-exempt chronic condition that requires two different medications every month. Let’s look at their annual cost:
- Number of items per month: 2
- Number of items per year: 2 x 12 = 24
- Cost without a PPC: 24 x £9.90 = £237.60
If they buy a 12-month PPC for £114.50, they would cover all their prescriptions for the year.
- Annual saving with a PPC: £237.60 - £114.50 = £123.10
In this scenario, buying a 12-month PPC is the clear choice. Managing regular costs like prescriptions is an important part of budgeting. You can see how these costs fit into your overall finances by using our NHS take-home pay calculator.
Key takeaways
- The NHS prescription charge in England is £9.90 per item from 1 May 2025.
- Prescriptions are free for residents in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
- Many people in England are exempt from charges, including those over 60, under 16, pregnant women, and people with certain medical conditions.
- If you need more than one item per month on average, a 12-month Prescription Prepayment Certificate (PPC) will save you money.
- A specific, lower-cost PPC is available for those who only need eligible Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) medicines.
- Always check your eligibility for free prescriptions before claiming to avoid a potential penalty charge. You can use the checker on the NHS website.