PEOPLE in Bradford have among the highest rates of unpaid prescriptions in the country, new figures have revealed.

The data, from 2020, reveals 1,560 penalty charge notices were issued to people who didn’t cover the cost of their prescriptions in the district.

This was the fourth highest total number, behind Birmingham, Manchester and Leeds.

Bradford also had the third highest total value of fines issued with the total value sitting at £146,570, again behind Birmingham and Manchester.

The figures have been compiled by online male subscription service From Mars.

Superintendent Pharmacist Navin Khosla said: “Getting your prescriptions is a relatively straightforward process in this country.

“You see a doctor, they assess your health, and you’re given the appropriate prescription to take to a pharmacy.

“Thankfully, the cost of prescriptions here in the UK is regulated, so everyone pays the same amount for their medication if they get it on the NHS.

“While not every medication is available on the NHS, and many people turn to specialist pharmacies for anything from erectile dysfunction treatments to acne medicines, huge numbers of people rely on NHS prescriptions for their day to day medical needs.

“The regulation of NHS prescription prices prevents discrimination based on your health issues, meaning that you won’t end up having to pay a fortune just because you happen to have a condition that requires more expensive medicine.

"However, the cost of prescriptions goes up every year. While this increase is usually only by a small margin, they do add up.

“This is especially the case if you require more than one prescription to treat one or various ailments.

“So, while it’s a good thing that our prices are regulated, there’s good reason as to why people may struggle to afford them depending on their personal and financial situation.

“Thankfully, some groups of people are exempt from paying prescription charges. Seniors and children both receive their prescriptions free of charge, which alleviates the financial strain on parents and the elderly, both of which are groups that often experience financial hardships.

“Yet, this led us to wonder just how much prescription prices have risen in recent years for those of us who are liable to pay them? And going one step further, where in our country do the most people struggle to pay for their prescriptions?”

The NHS urges people to check if they are eligible for a free prescription or they could face a £100 fine, even if it’s a mistake.

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