[MD] Privatised Medicine? No thanks

[Ant McWatt]

Quoting Ant McWatt April 26th:

"A huge expense for the NHS is caused by the relatively expensive medical 
equipment and drugs provided by _private_ companies.  [As such] the UK 
government should set-up publicly owned divisions within the NHS to make 
equipment and drugs itself.  The quality of healthcare could therefore be 
gradually improved in the UK by transferring funds away from shareholders' 
profits and into more worthwhile expenditure such as intensive care units 
and operating theatres."

Platt then asked April 26th:

Does "transferring funds away from shareholders' profits into more 
worthwhile
expenditures" mean "increase taxes on profits?" It would seem that's what
it means in practice.

Ant McWatt comments:

Platt,

No, I think the idea is that if the British government are serious about 
reducing the tax burden of the NHS on UK taxpayers, one of the better ways 
for them to do this would be to set-up in-house divisions within the NHS to 
provide drugs and medical equipment (and the research in these) rather than 
relying on private companies to provide them.  You can see such a policy as 
largely cutting out the middle man i.e. the shareholders in these private 
companies.  I state "largely" as there probably would be _in practice_ 
certain specialised drugs and equipment that only some private companies 
could provide (either due to licensing, technical or economic reasons).

Best wishes,

Anthony


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