Controversial proposals to increase prescription charges and remove certain exemptions have been officially dropped, Health Minister David Ashford has confirmed.

The move had already been signalled by outgoing health minister Kate Beecroft, after she was forced to resign, but her successor confirmed that decision to Tynwald this morning.

‘We will not be proceeding with the proposed changes at this time,’ Mr Ashford said this morning (Tuesday).

Last summer, the Department of Health and Social Care put out to consultation its proposals, which included pensioners under the age of 75 losing the right to free prescriptions, eye tests and dental treatment.

The prescriptions exemption would have also been removed from pregnant women and patients with specific medical conditions, such as diabetes or epilepsy.

Another proposal was that prescription charges could be increased from £3.85 to £5.

Now that those proposals have been dropped, Mr Ashford said the department, which looks set to undergo an independent review of its overall service delivery and funding, would have to consider other options to manage the cost of medicines.