Current status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 15 January 2026
To ask the Scottish Government, regarding any price gaps between the purchase costs of gluten-free products and the NHS reimbursement rate for pharmacies, what steps it is taking to ensure that those with coeliac disease have sufficient access to prescriptions for gluten-free products.
The Scottish Government is not aware of any negative price differentials between the purchase costs of gluten-free food products and the NHS reimbursement rate. The Scottish Drug Tariff contains information regarding the prescribing, dispensing and reimbursement of medicines and appliances. Gluten-free food products are reimbursed in line with this process.
The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that people living with long term conditions such as coeliac disease receive the care and support they need. People who have been diagnosed with coeliac disease or dermatitis herpetiformis can receive a range of gluten-free foods on prescription at no charge. There is a monthly unit allowance and people may choose to use all or part of that allowance to access these gluten-free items on prescription through their local community pharmacy. Health Boards set out the gluten-free food products available on prescription, taking account of local needs and demands, in their prescribing formularies.