Wales to roll out subsidy cards to help reduce cost of gluten-free food

People with coeliac disease and gluten intolerance in Wales will be eligible for a prepaid card designed to help towards the cost of specialised foods.

The debit-style subsidy cards will be rolled out in a UK-first this autumn, the Welsh government said on Friday. The scheme aims is to give people with conditions such as coeliac disease and dermatitis herpetiformis access to a wider range of gluten-free food at supermarkets and online, rather than relying on prescriptions from a pharmacy.

Money will be added to cards every three months and the amount for each patient will vary and be regularly reviewed.The new system was expected to be “cost neutral”, the Welsh government said in a statement.

The Welsh 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. The scheme will contribute to reducing administrative burdens on GPs and pharmacies, while promoting a more effective use of NHS resources.”

About one in 100 people in the UK have coeliac disease, but only 36% with the condition in Wales have been medically diagnosed, according to the charity Coeliac UK.

The disease is an autoimmune disorder triggered by gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye, that causes the body to attack its own tissues and an impaired uptake in nutrients. Symptoms include bloating, vomiting, diarrhoea, fatigue, and ulcers. In serious cases, it can lead to osteoporosis, nerve problems, infertility, and small bowel cancer.

The only treatment for the chronic condition is a strictly gluten-free diet, which Coeliac UK says can add up to 35% to food bills.

The new card scheme was tested over five years by the Hywel Dda University Health Board, which covers Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, and Pembrokeshire.

Cherylee Barker, 54, from Narbeth in Pembrokeshire, took part in the pilot and was given £42 every three months towards the cost of gluten-free foods. “I was diagnosed with coeliac disease in 2007 and quickly realised that maintaining a gluten-free diet would be costly, with limited shopping options and hit-and-miss food choices,” she said.

“I jumped at the chance to join the pilot. I could try new products without feeling financially stretched and take back control of my diet. The card empowers me to buy the food I want and make better lifestyle choices.”

People in Wales who receive gluten-free food on prescription will have the option to continue with the old system, similar to that in place in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland.