Tynwald is to be asked next week to approve a plan to raise prescription charges.

The National Health and Care Service (General) scheme 2018 is due to be laid before the court next Tuesday, April 17, and if successful, will result in raising prescription charges for Manx residents.

The plan would see prescription charges increase from £3.85 to £5.

And pre-paid prescriptions certificates would rise from £19 to £20 for four months and from £54 to £60 for 12 months.

Health Minister David Ashford said in January: ’I have decided, in respect of the prescription charges, the proposals in the draft General Scheme will not be proceeding with the proposed changes at this time.

’The department will be reviewing the best way forward in relation to this and will be looking to develop new proposals.’

Following this, Mr Ashford and his department have decided not to use the changes planned to the exemptions previous mooted during Kate Beecroft’s time as health minister.

Under those plans, pensioners would have had to wait until 75 to receive free prescriptions, pregnant women and new mothers would have lost their free prescriptions, as would patients with specific medical conditions, such as diabetes or epilepsy.

However, under Mr Ashford’s proposals, these exemptions will remain in place.

Also exempt from paying are under-16s or people under 19 in full-time education, those on job seekers allowance, people with a war disablement pension and people who are severely visually impaired.

Tynwald will also be asked to support a rise in 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, on a biennial basis as opposed to the annual offering currently available, except in certain clinical circumstances.

The move is consistent with the College of Optometrists guidelines.

Despite the rises in prescription charges, Manx residents will still be paying less than English patients.

They currently pay £8.80 per prescription, a three- month pre-payment certificate costs £29.10 and 12 months sets patients back £104, more than 70% higher.