Living with asthma and mental health issues is not just a battle of maintaining health but also a financial burden. I was born with asthma—a condition that requires constant medication to ensure I can breathe. It seems unjust to pay for a necessity that sustains life and prevents emergency situations. Without my inhaler, a simple asthma attack could escalate to an emergency that would cost the NHS far more than regular medication.

The situation worsens with mental health medication. Like many others, I need these medications to function daily and avoid a severe mental health crisis. Yet, I face an impossible choice between paying for my medication or risking a decline in my mental health by going without it. The fear of what might happen without my medication is overwhelming, yet the financial strain is equally daunting.

Currently, asthma and mental health medications are not exempt from prescription charges, and this policy needs urgent reevaluation. The NHS covers various medical conditions, recognizing the crucial need for medication to manage them. It is time for asthma and mental health conditions to be recognized as equally critical to physical health.

Statistics show that individuals untreated for asthma are more likely to visit emergency departments, highlighting the cost-effectiveness of regular medication. Similarly, untreated mental health conditions can lead to severe outcomes, which emergency interventions would become necessary and costly compared to preventative medications.

Our ask is simple: to extend the existing medical exceptions to include asthma and mental health medications. This change will help countless individuals manage their conditions without financial distress, improving their quality of life and ultimately saving costs in emergency care for the NHS.

Please join me in urging the policymakers to reconsider this crucial aspect of healthcare. Sign the petition to push for medical exceptions for asthma and mental health medications, and help make healthcare more accessible for everyone.