Politicians from all over the British Isles are calling for the cancellation of the Reciprocal Health Agreement, between the Isle of Man and the United Kingdom, to be put on hold.
The British Irish Parliamentary Assembly meeting in Ireland unanimously backed a move by Andrew MacKinlay, the MP for Thurrock in Essex, who has been fighting on the Island's behalf for the arrangement to continue.
Mr MacKinlay's motion also called for discussions on the issue between all the devolved governments represented in the assembly.
The move came ahead of tomorrow's meeting between members of Tynwald and a group of MPs from the House of Commons Justice Committee, at which it's understood a number of MHKs will lobby for a six month extension of the agreement, after its scheduled expiry on March 31, so a new one can be negotiated.
Assembly chairman Paul Murphy is asking for a meeting with United Kingdom Secretary of State for Health Andy Burnham, UK Justice Secretary Jack Straw and Ministerial Leader of the UK BIPA Peter Hain.
At yesterday's gathering, politicians from Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales expressed concern over the problems travellers will face once the agreement ends, and the fact the decision to scrap it was taken without consultation with any other parliament or assembly in the British Isles.
From April, Manx residents will have to pay for medical treatment in the UK, apart from accident and emergency care and scheduled referrals for specialist treatment.
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