PJ Letters: Exemptions

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The Pharmaceutical Journal Vol 267 No 7163 p293-296
1 September 2001

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Statutory fees Community pharmacy Intervention Exemptions Career promotion Pharmacy education Preregistration Indemnity insurance Generic names Letters to the Editor	Exemptions How to deal with asylum seekers From Mr J. Morris, MRPharmS As a community-based pharmacist, I have on a number of occasions been presented with prescriptions issued to asylum seekers who are in receipt of Government-issued vouchers designed to cover the cost of food and other basics. In most cases the persons have been unemployed but, since they are non-resident in the United Kingdom for tax purposes, have not been in receipt of state benefits. As my primary concern is for the health and welfare of patients, I am and will always be inclined to supply the medicines without charge. Up to now we have had no clear guidance as to how we should deal with asylum seekers who present prescriptions with no clear cut exemption declaration information. Any guidance or comments on this matter would be greatly appreciated. Joe Morris Leeds

	GORDON GEDDES (head of information and technical services, Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee) replies: Through the National Asylum Support Service, asylum seekers can obtain an HC2 Charges Certificate which exempts the holder from NHS prescription charges. If the patient has this certificate then box L on the reverse side of Form FP10 can be ticked and the rest of the form completed. Patients who are not eligible for assistance from the National Asylum Support Service should be encouraged to apply for income support exemption status through form HC1. In the absence of a valid exemption certificate, and if the patient is not exempt by virtue of age, then a prescription charge must be levied for each item and a receipt issued if requested. Further information can be obtained in leaflet HC11 or from the Free Prescription Advice Line (0800 91 77 711), to which I am grateful for this information.
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