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Petition urges PM to reverse healthcare decision

An online petition has been set up to voice concerns over the ending of the reciprocal healthcare agreement with the United Kingdom.

The e-petition is on the official website of UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown - Number10.gov.uk - and is under the name of Alexander Norori-McCormac.

It states: "we the undersigned petition the prime minister to reinstate the reciprocal health agreement between the United Kingdom and the Isle of Man".

The petition says that from April 1, 2010 healthcare for Manx residents in the United Kingdom, and vice versa, will no longer be free, due to the UK government's decision to withdraw from the agreement.

It's claimed this is against the best interests of all the parties involved, and the petitioners say they wish the agreement to continue, for the mutual benefit of all those travelling between the jurisdictions, for business, holiday, education or any other reasons.

The reciprocal arrangement between the UK and the Channel Islands finishes at the end of this month.

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