Wales to roll out subsidy card for gluten-free food
A new prepaid card scheme will be introduced across Wales this autumn to give people who currently receive gluten-free food on prescription greater choice and freedom.
The card allows people with conditions such as coeliac disease and dermatitis herpetiformis to buy a wider range of gluten-free foods from supermarkets and online, rather than relying solely on prescriptions.
The national gluten-free subsidy card scheme is the first of its kind in the UK. People already receiving gluten-free foods on prescription will be contacted by their local health board as the scheme becomes available in their area.
Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care Jeremy Miles said: “For people living with coeliac disease, following a strict gluten-free diet is not a lifestyle choice but a medical necessity. We want to de-medicalise the supply of gluten-free foods in Wales, giving people more freedom to access the food they want to eat, more conveniently, to help them to manage their condition.”
The scheme aims to reduce administrative burdens on GPs and pharmacies while making better use of NHS resources.
The card has been tested extensively in the Hywel Dda University Health Board area. Cherylee Barker, who has used the card for six years as part of the pilot, said it has helped her take back control of her diet and manage her condition more easily.
Dietitian Alison Jones, who led the pilot, said: “We know that the card provides more choice, flexibility and variety, making it easier for people to manage their gluten-free diets while still providing the support they need.”
Eligible people will be able to choose between continuing with traditional gluten-free food prescriptions or switching to the new prepaid card scheme. The contactless card operates like a standard prepaid Mastercard and will be topped up every three months.
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