[MD] Privatised Medicine? No thanks

[pholden at davtv.com]

Quoting Ant McWatt <antmcwatt at hotmail.co.uk>:

> 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).

It would appear that such a change would virtually eliminate the free market
as the provider of drugs and medical equipment, risking the loss of Dynamic
Quality. Do you see this as a concern?

Thanks. Best regards,
Platt
   


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