The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) is reminding residents of the benefits of pre-paid certificates for prescriptions (PPC).

The certificates enable people to reduce the cost of prescription charges, which currently stand at ?3.85 an item. They are available to provide full cover over periods of four months and 12 months, and cost ?19 and ?54 respectively.

An application for a PPC can be backdated by up to a week and refunds are available on the production of an NHS receipt.

Those who choose to use a pre-payment certificate should make a note of the expiry date and apply for a renewal in plenty of time as reminders are not issued by the DHSC.

Application forms are available at pharmacies and online here.

Patients collecting prescriptions are asked to show their pre-payment certificate or any exemption certificate at the pharmacy.

For more information on pre-payment or exemptions, contact Family Practitioner Services by calling 642694 or email familypractitionerservices.dh@gov.im.