The prescription charge will remain at £9.90 for the month of April as government has not yet decided whether it should increase, Community Pharmacy England (CPE) has announced.

But patients who currently receive tax credits will no longer automatically be eligible for free prescriptions after the scheme ends on 5 April 2025.

Prescription charge to stay at £9.90 during April

According to CPE, 'the government has yet to conclude consideration of any increases to prescription charges and prescription pre-payment certificates (PPCs) for 2025/26'.

This means that the the current charges will roll over into April 2025.

The negotiator said it would update community pharmacy teams 'as soon as any changes are announced by Ministers, including details of when they will be implemented'.

Tax credits ending on 5 April 2025

CPE also highlighted that from 6 April 2025, 'patients who hold a tax credit exemption certificate will no longer receive automatic entitlement to free NHS prescriptions under the ‘Tax Credit exemption certificate’ category'.

'This is because HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) will be ending tax credit payments on 5 April 2025,' the negotiator said.

And it shared a downloadable poster for pharmacies to display.

New pharmacy contract still not announced

Contractors are still awaiting news of how community pharmacy funding might change in the new financial year.

Last Tuesday (18 March), CPE chief executive Janet Morrison said negotiations were ‘about to conclude’.

'It remains our goal to communicate with the sector as soon as possible, and before the start of the financial year,' she added.

The government is due to announce its Spring Budget on Wednesday.

Commentators expect the budget to include cuts to some government departments.