Health chiefs still haven’t reached a decision about what to do over prescription charges.

Controversial proposals, from the Department of Health and Social Care, to remove certain exemptions, were unveiled in the summer.

They included pensioners under the age of 75 losing the right to free prescriptions, eye tests and dental treatment. The prescriptions exemption would also be removed from pregnant women and patients with specific medical conditions, such as diabetes or epilepsy.

In addition, prescription charges could be increased from £3.85 to £5.

The DHSC pointed out those on income-based benefits would still be exempt and that a pre-payment certificate option of £60, equated to £5 a month maximum cost.

A final decision still has not been made.

Department member Jason Moorhouse (Arbory, Castletown and Malew), standing in for Health Minister Kate Beecroft, told Tynwald the department had considered all responses to the consultation and a report would be available shortly.

But, he added: ’The department has not decided on the best way forward.

’Therefore, to make assumptions about what prescription charges will change, the scale of any change and the subsequent impact on the uptake of pre-payment certificates would be premature.’

Mr Moorhouse later suggested it would be ’early next year’ before a decision was finalised.

David Ashford (Douglas North) had asked what impact the number of new pre-payment certificates bought would have on predicted savings from changes to prescriptions.

Mr Moorhouse said that, in the UK, estimates were that about 4%-5% of patients bought pre-payment certificates, which effectively mean a discount for those who need a regular supply of medicine.

He said it was likely the Isle of Man would have a better uptake.

As of November 30, he said, 2,143 pre-payment certificates had been issued.

Mrs Beecroft has previously stated that the proposed changes could save the cash-strapped DHSC nearly £3.86 million, but Mr Moorhouse was wary of giving a figure.

Mr Ashford said: ’To cut through it, is he basically saying the department has no clue how much any changes that they do to prescription charges will actually save the department? Is it just a figure in the air?’

Mr Moorhouse said it was difficult to give accurate forecasts before a final decision was made on any changes. The answers were dependent on the course of action taken.

’When we came up with the initial plan, there was data suggesting a substantial amount of money raised,’ he said. ’But that has not been our key priority.

’At the moment our priority is to make sure we get a system in place that people are happy with.’