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28 January 2026
A new analysis from the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) estimates that prescription charges could have cost patients £883 million if they did not have a prescription prepayment certificate (PPC) in 2024/25, up from £817 million in 2023/24.
The report, which the NHSBSA began publishing annually from last year, provides data on PPC uptake and estimated savings.
The report shows that in 2024/25, over 3.6 million certificates were issued. Over 2.19 million of these were the 12-month PPC, with the uptake of these certificates seeing a consistent year-on-year increase since 2018/19. A total of 984,000 three-month PPCs and 542,000 hormone replacement therapy PPCs (HRT PPC) were also issued in 2024/25.
Experimental analysis of NHS prescriptions data indicates that prescription charges ould have cost patients an estimated £883 million if they did not have a three or 12-month PPC.
By assuming that patients all purchased a 12-month prepayment certificate, the report estimates they could have saved £499 million on prescription charges after the cost of the certificate has been applied, up from £451 million in 2023/2024.
Without an HRT PPC, prescription charges could have cost patients approximately £33.4 million.
The report provides data on the potential savings that patients have missed out on by not purchasing an annual PPC or HRT PPC.
Data is also provided on potential optimum savings, based on patients choosing the option that would save them the most money. It may, however, be difficult for patients to accurately predict the number of prescription items they will need in future, making it challenging to make the optimum choice.
To access the full publication, go to https://nhsbsadata.shinyapps.io/ppc-savings-and-beneficiaries-2024-2025/
Data covers the financial year 2024/25 (1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025).
Figures for numbers of certificates issued should not be interpreted as numbers of people, as a unique individual could be represented multiple times.
In the other sections of the report when looking at prescription data we do refer to number of patients (based on count of distinct NHS numbers).
Potential savings should not be added together since patients could appear in both PPC and HRT PPC groups.
Full details of the schemes are available on the NHS Help with Health Costs webpage. Patients should check if they are entitled to free NHS prescriptions before purchasing a PPC using the free online eligibility checker at www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/check.
The NHS Business Services Authority is an arm’s length body of the Department of Health and Social Care and provides a range of critical central services to NHS organisations, NHS contractors, patients and the public. Its purpose is to deliver business service excellence to the NHS to help people live longer, healthier lives, and its vision is to be the provider of national, at scale business services for the health and social care system. For more information about the NHSBSA, visit www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk.
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