FREE PRESCRIPTIONS FOR THE CHRONICALLY ILL

Early day motion 1058, tabled 10 April 2003 by Paul Marsden (Liberal Democrat). Signed by 29 members.

That this House welcomes the acceptance of the Liberal Democrats' proposals in the Welsh Assembly for free prescriptions for the chronically ill; notes that the regulations specifying conditions that qualify for exemption have not changed since 1968 and that the Wanless Report described the current situation as 'not logical, nor rooted in the principles of the NHS'; further notes that the Government, in opposition, said that 'we will seek to provide free medication as part of ongoing or long-term requirements' but that they have failed to do so; and urges the Secretary of State for Health to scrap prescription charges for the chronically ill in England which are a serious barrier to health care, particularly for those suffering from chronic conditions such as asthma, cystic fibrosis, Parkinson's disease and multiple sclerosis.

Signatures by party: Liberal Democrat 29.