Citing an unnamed Department of Health and Social Care (DH) source, the paper reported today (March 16) that the government would not “go ahead” with plans to make those aged between 60 and 65 pay for their NHS prescriptions.

It follows a public and political backlash against the reform, which was first mooted in 2021 in a government consultation.

The government has repeatedly said that it has not yet come to a decision on the proposals, which would only affect patients in England.

And the DH did not confirm the reports.

A spokesperson told C+D that the conclusions of the consultation would be “published in due course”.

Read more: Script fee changes for over 60s would ‘break trust’, pharmacist MP warns

“The upper age exemption for prescriptions remains at 60 years old,” they said.

They continued: “Almost 89% of prescription items in England are already provided free of charge and pre-payment certificates (PPCs) can be used to cap costs at just over £2 a week for regular prescriptions.”

It comes as politicians last week (March 6) debated a petition calling for the continuation of free prescriptions for those aged over 60, which garnered more than 46,000 signatures.

The debate did not end with a vote to decide on whether to maintain free NHS prescriptions for the over-60s.

The proposals were stringently opposed by numerous MPs during the debate, including Labour MP and pharmacist Taiwo Owatemi, who warned increases to the prescription charge exemption age limit would “break [the] trust” of older people.

And the DH last week announced prescription charges in England were set to rise by 30p to £9.65 per item from April.

Read more: DH to hike prescription charges by 30p from next month

Chair of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society's (RPS) English Pharmacy Board Thorrun Govind told C+D that the news was "a kick in the teeth" given there are reports of patients who are already unable to afford their prescriptions.