The Manx Labour Party and Mec Vannin have joined forces to ask for consultation on the future of the health service.
The move comes after Treasury Minister Alfred Cannan MHK announced an independent review in January.
That review would look at whether services should remain free.
Other options that could be considered might include a ’health tax’.
A letter to Mr Cannan signed by David Cretney MLC, the chairman of the Manx Labour Party, and Mec Vannin’s chairman Mark Kermode, reads: ’We believe it to be essential that both Tynwald and the public of the Isle of Man have the opportunity to have proper input and discussion into the terms of reference before any external parties are engaged.
’We note further that no financial amount for this exercise was in the January resolution and would expect that such sum would require authorisation from Tynwald in monetary terms as otherwise “open cheque book” claims could be raised which we are sure you would not wish to subscribe to.
’We seek your assurances that both actions will follow before any external party is engaged.
’We believe it would be disrespectful of Treasury to Tynwald having given assurances in relation to firstly the review and summary document to proceed without the appropriate consultation that a matter of such seriousness deserves and secondly that terms of reference be formally agreed by Tynwald after public consultation and input.’
Mr Cretney is the only representative of the Manx Labour Party in Tynwald.
Mec Vannin, the Manx nationalist party, no longer fights elections.
Article originally appeared on Isle of Man Today
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