Tynwald is to be asked this month to agree to a rise in prescription charges and dental fees.

The National Health and Care Service (general) scheme 2018 will set out what services are to be provided by the islands health and care services.

Included within the scheme are plans to increase prescription charges from £3.85 to £5 with rises also set for pre-paid prescriptions.

If approved, four month pre-payment certificates will rise from £19 to £20 and 12 months will see a rise from £54 to £60.

Despite the rise, Manx patients will remain better off than their English counterparts who currently pay £8.80 per item, £29.10 for a three month pre-payment certificate and £104 for 12 months.

Also included in the potential rise is dental charges which will increase in line with England’s 2017-18 charges from £18.50 to £20.60 for a check up and from £50.50 to £56.30 for the most basic treatment, more complex treatment and for the fitting of bridges and crowns will rise from £219 to £244.30.

Eye tests will remain free, but will only be offered biennial basis instead of annually, except for those with certain medical conditions.

The prescription charge increases remain the same as those first put forward when Kate Beecroft MHK was health minister.

Although under these plans, people who had their exemptions at risk such as those of pensionable age and pregnant women and new mothers will retain their current exemption status.