FREE NHS PRESCRIPTIONS

You can get free NHS prescriptions if at the time the prescription is dispensed you:
• are aged 60 or over;
• are under 16;
• are in full-time education and aged 16, 17 or 18;
• are pregnant or have had a baby in the previous 12 months and have a valid exemption certificate;
• have a listed medical condition and have a valid exemption certificate;
• have a continuing physical disability which means you cannot go out without help from another person and have a valid exemption certificate;
• are an NHS in-patient;
• are getting, or your partner gets: Income Support, or Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (Incapacity Benefit and Disability Living Allowance do not count, as they are income-related), or Pension Credit Guarantee Credit;
• are entitled to, or named on, a valid NHS tax credit exemption certificate;
• are named on a valid HC2 certificate issued under the terms of the NHS Low Income
Scheme;
• are a war pensioner, the prescription is for your pensionable disablement and you have a valid\war pension exemption certificate.

The following items are supplied free:
• medication administered at a hospital;
• prescribed contraceptives;
• medication personally administered by a GP;
• medication supplied by a hospital for the treatment
of a sexually transmissible infection (STI).

Pre-payment certificate
PRESCRIPTION PRE-PAYMENT CERTIFICATES (PPCs)

If you are not entitled to free prescriptions and you think you will have to pay for more than 5 items in 4 months or 14 items in 12 months, you may find it cheaper to buy a Prescription Pre-payment Certificate (PPC). You can purchase a PPC over the counter at most community pharmacies or dispensing doctor practices, or you can apply for a PPC by post by getting form EC95. This is available from pharmacies, NHS Boards or NHS National Services Scotland Practitioner Services Division’s Area Offices*, the form tells you what to do. PPC start date Whether you apply by post, or obtain your PPC over the counter, your PPC will start from the date your application is received unless you ask for a different start date. Your start date can be up to one month before or one month later than the date you make your application.