Citation, commencement, extent, application and interpretation

1.—(1) These Regulations may be cited as the National Health Service (Help with Health Costs) (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2025 and come into force on 1st December 2025.

(2) These Regulations extend to England and Wales and apply only to England(2).

(3) In these Regulations, “ the Prescription Charges Regulations ” means the National Health Service (Charges for Drugs and Appliances) Regulations 2015 ( 3 ).

Amendments to regulation 5 of the National Health Service (Travel Expenses and Remission of Charges) Regulations 2003

2.—(1) Regulation 5 of the National Health Service (Travel Expenses and Remission of Charges) Regulations 2003(4) (entitlement to full remission and payment) is amended as follows.

(2) In paragraph (1), after sub-paragraph (d) insert—

“(da)that person is part of medical evacuation arrangements from a conflict zone;”.

(3) After paragraph (1D) insert—

“(1E) For the purposes of paragraph(1)(da), a person is part of medical evacuation arrangements from a conflict zone if—

(a)the person is about to enter or has recently entered the United Kingdom, having been evacuated from an area where there is or has recently been an armed conflict;

(b)the sole or main purpose of the evacuation is or was for them to receive, or for a person they are or were accompanying to receive, medical treatment;

(c)as regards any charge that may be payable under article 3 of the Immigration (Health Charge) Order 2015(5) (requirement to pay an immigration health charge)—

(i)the person is exempt from paying such a charge by virtue of article 7 of, and any provision of Schedule 2 to, that Order(6) (exemptions from the requirement to pay the immigration health charge), or

(ii)the Secretary of State has exercised their discretion, pursuant to article 8 of that Order (reduction, waiver or refund), to reduce, waive or refund all or part of a charge payable by the person;

(d)the Secretary of State has determined that the person is to benefit from membership of the NHS low income scheme(7) for a specified period (which may be extended by the Secretary of State), regardless of what that person’s or any other person’s resources are; and

(e)the period specified under sub-paragraph (d) has not come to an end.”.

Amendment to regulation 3 of the Primary Ophthalmic Services Regulations 2008

3. In regulation 3 of the Primary Ophthalmic Services Regulations 2008(8) (sight tests – eligibility), in paragraph (1), after sub-paragraph (d) insert—

“(da)who is, for the purposes of regulation 5(1)(da) of the National Health Service (Travel Expenses and Remission of Charges) Regulations 2003(9) (entitlement to full remission and payment), part of medical evacuation arrangements from a conflict zone;”.

Amendment to regulation 8 of the National Health Service (Optical Charges and Payments) Regulations 2013

4. In regulation 8 of the National Health Service (Optical Charges and Payments) Regulations 2013(10) (eligibility for a voucher – supply of optical appliances), in paragraph (2), after sub-paragraph (d) insert—

“(da)a person who is, for the purposes of regulation 5(1)(da) of the Remission Regulations (entitlement to full remission and payment), part of medical evacuation arrangements from a conflict zone;”.

New regulation 13C of the Prescription Charges Regulations

5. After regulation 13B of the Prescription Charges Regulations(11) (coronavirus and influenza vaccinations and immunisations) insert—

Treatments for tuberculosis

13C.—(1) No charge is payable under these Regulations in respect of the supply or administration of any drug for the treatment of—

(a)tuberculosis;

(b)the effects of tuberculosis; or

(c)the effects of tuberculosis treatment.

(2) Paragraph (1) applies if the supply—

(a)is made in accordance with a patient group direction; or

(b)has been ordered on a prescription form, and the prescriber has included in the form the reference “FS”.”.

Amendments to regulation 17 of the Prescription Charges Regulations

6. In regulation 17 of the Prescription Charges Regulations(12) (pre-payment certificates: repayment)—

(a)in paragraph (3A) for “or 10(1)(e)” substitute “to 10(1)(f)”;

(b)in paragraph (3B), for “or 10(1)(e)” substitute “to 10(1)(f)”;

(c)in paragraph (4)—

(i)in sub-paragraph (a), for “£31.25” substitute “£32.05”, and

(ii)in sub-paragraph (b) and (c)(i) and (ii), for “£111.60”, at each place that it occurs, substitute “£114.50”; and

(d)in paragraph (5), for “£31.25” substitute “£32.05”.