Exemption Certificates

I have been an asthmatic for 32 years and during that time I have been on regular medication. Each year I pay for a pre-payment certificate to cover the prescription costs.

A work colleague of mine was recently off work with an over active thyroid which
was treated with radiation therapy. She too, has regular medication to allow her thyroid
to work naturally. The difference between both of us, is that she is exempt from paying
the costs of her medication completely.

Whilst not belittling the seriousness of her condition, I feel it is grossly unfair that she
is exempt from paying nothing, while I would consider asthma, a chronic illness and
sometimes fatal, has been treated with less respect.

How can one allow sufferers of conditions such as thyroid problems, diabetes etc have
free medication and asthmatics and other serious disorders be made to foot the enormous
costs each year – it just isn’t fair.

I believe all serious, long term disorders and diseases should be treated equally
- either we are all exempt or we all have to pay the prescription costs each year.

I have written to my local MP and Patricia Hewitt regarding this issue and I have been told that there will be a review on Exemption Certificates next summer, so hopefully
we can expect some significant changes for the future.