The computer system that supports the online purchase and renewal of prescription exemption certificates will be ’redundant’ by the end of next year.

But Health Minister David Ashford has pledged that a replacement system will be in place in time.

He told Tynwald: ’The computer system by which the Isle of Man processes both medical exemption certificates and prepayment certificates will become redundant before the end of 2019.

’The department, along with the Government Technology Services, has already been looking at various options for the future provision of these certificates.

’One of the options that is already under consideration is the use of the Isle of Man Government online services portal.’

However, he said the portal only offered ’part of the solution’ as it would still need an electronic system to process applications.

Juan Watterson (Rushen) asked if the new system would include email reminders.

’I can certainly vouch for someone who has found that they have turned up at the pharmacy and realised at that moment that their prescription prepayment certificate had run out,’ he said.

Mr Ashford said that would be looked at.

Post Office chairman Julie Edge asked if the Department of Health and Social Care would consider using the post office network to assist ’digitally excluded people’ who were not in a position to use online services.

He offered to discuss the idea further with Ms Edge and added: ’It is important that we provide different means for different people. I think it is important that there is a digital solution in place but equally that we can provide for those who may not have the necessary digital access.’

Currently it is possible to buy four-month and annual certificates under the system. But Mr Ashford warned it would be an ’administrative nightmare’ to also offer one-month certificates.