BSNA Gluten free manufacturers put the facts straight on prescription prices Jul 2011
BSNA is pleased that the Welsh Government has refuted recent reports in the press which exaggerated the cost to the NHS of gluten-free products on prescription.
These reports in the national press had suggested that a loaf of gluten free bread costs the NHS in Wales £32. This figure appears to have been arrived at following a misinterpretation of NHS prescribing statistics - which show the total number of prescriptions dispensed, rather than the total number of loaves prescribed.
The Welsh Health Minister, Lesley Griffiths has issued the following correction:
"This claim is inaccurate. The actual cost for the single loaf of gluten-free bread in question is around £2.82, not the £ 32 claimed. The £32 cost quoted is for an average prescription on which several loaves are ordered at a time.
"If a GP determines a patient requires these products, they should be prescribed to maintain their health. It is wrong to question the judgement and professionalism of health professionals - who have best interests at heart in determining what is prescribed. It is important to note that the loaves ordered from pharmacies are often not of the type routinely available in supermarkets."
Coeliac UK is also pleased that the Welsh Government has clarified that the figures are inaccurate. The Chief Executive of Coeliac UK, Sarah Sleet, has said:
“The importance of access to gluten-free foods on prescription for people with coeliac disease should not be understated.
“We know that having a small number of foods to replace normal bread, flour and other staples on prescription helps people with the condition stick to their diet and stay healthy. Specialist doctors agree and say that prescriptions are necessary. Without prescriptions patients will have to pay hundreds of pounds extra a year because the cost of staples like gluten-free bread and flour is around 3- 4 times more expensive in shops.
“These stories have missed the real point.”
BSNA and Coeliac UK are aware that some wholesalers are charging administrative/transport charges on top of the set NHS price for some gluten free products. Coeliac UK have argued for some time that the issue of these additional charges needs to be investigated at a national level either by the NHS or by the ACBS ( The Advisory Committee on Borderline Substances). Coeliac UK members do not want the NHS to pay more than they should for their prescriptions and want a fairer, more transparent system to aid the scope of available Gluten –free products at a reasonable price to all.
The link to the Welsh Government press statement is available here: Welsh Government statement.
The link to the Coeliac UK press statement is available here: Coeliac UK Statement