Full list of 35 conditions no longer covered by NHS prescriptions following crackdown Prescriptions for a variety of over-the-counter remedies have been discontinued by the NHS following a concerted effort to curb unnecessary expenditure on everyday ailments.
The vast majority were appropriate but many were for medicines, products or treatments that do not require a prescription and can be purchased over the counter from pharmacies, supermarkets, petrol stations, corner shops or other retailers in some cases at a much lower cost than the price paid by the NHS.
NHS England highlighted the substantial outlays for conditions including constipation (£22.8 million per year), athlete's foot and fungal infections (£3 million), and dandruff shampoos (£4.5 million).
As reported by Express.co.uk, the NHS initially floated plans to limit prescriptions for minor conditions, which received "broad support" during public consultations, arguing that the move would save millions annually.
"The NHS could save around £190 million a year by cutting such prescriptions for minor, short-term conditions, many of which will cure themselves or cause no long term effect on health.".
