Creation of a Skills Executive Partnership Agreement

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A decision made (17/12/2007) regarding: Creation of a Skills Executive Partnership Agreement - Ministers of ED, ESC and SS.

Decision Reference: MD-S-2007-0089
Decision Summary Title :	Abolition of Prescription Charges		Date of Decision Summary:	30/11/07
Decision Summary Author:	R. Goulding Policy Principal		Decision Summary: Public or Exempt?	Public
Type of Report: Oral or Written?	Written		Person Giving Oral Report:
Written Report Title :	Prescription Charges (2/2/1)		Date of Written Report:	21/11/07
Written Report Author:	T. Gales Policy Director		Written Report : Public or Exempt?	Public
Subject: Abolition of Prescription Charges
Decision(s): The Minister set the prescription charge from 1st February 2008 to zero for medicines prescribed under the Health Insurance (Jersey) Law 1967.
Reason(s) for Decision: The Health Insurance (Jersey) Law 1967provides financial benefits for medical and pharmaceutical services supplied by approved health professionals to people insured under the law. Under this law, the money collected for the Health Insurance Fund cannot be used for any other purpose. The Health Insurance Scheme has been running with a surplus for over 5 years and the Fund currently stands at nearly three times the actuarial recommendation. Removing prescription charges will benefit contributors needing medicines and remove any financial barriers to low income patients. Coupled with the Income Support system the support for people suffering from chronic conditions or households with large prescription needs will now be better met and some barriers to access removed.
Resource Implications: The abolition of prescription charges will cost an estimated £2.5 million a year, and there are no manpower consequences.
Action required: The Minister to approve the abolition of prescription charges from 1st February 2008 and to request an Order is drafted to set the prescription charge to zero.
Signature:		Position:
Date Signed:		Date of Decision (If different from Date Signed):