Dental and prescription charges set to increase in the Isle of Man
Isle of Wight Health Minister, David Anderson, has announced plans to increase dental and prescription charges from September onwards.
The current charges of £3.25 per item for prescription medications and £15.50 for routine dental examinations will increase to £3.85 and £16.50 respectively; the charges have been set the same levels since 2006.
Mr Anderson will seek the approval of the Isle of Wight Parliament, Tynwald and the new measures should come into play in September this year. The charges will still be significantly lower than those in England and people who struggle to afford dental care and prescription medication can apply for exemption or pay for medication by pre-paid certificate. Pre-payment certificates allow patients to procure unlimited amounts of prescriptions during a set period of time; four month certificates cost £19 and twelve month certificates cost £54.
The Health Minister said that the new charges are unavoidable in the light of recent cuts across the UK and the growing deficit. The new plans will generate around £150,000 each year and Mr Anderson said it was necessary to keep prescription charges in line with expenditure on drugs.
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Isle of Wight Health Minister?
Obviously written by someone who lives south of Watford