How do you feel about a publicly funded Healthcare organisation?

[Opinionated Brit]

The NHS played a massive part in the Opening Ceremony of the Olympics a few days ago. Much to the disgust of many right wing Americans who 'couldn't believe' that the NHS was something that Britain could be in any way proud of.

Most of these people had deep criticisms about the NHS that were completely baseless since they had never experienced it themselves

Here's the article that raised this to my attention, along with some examples of the sorts of tweets that these people posted.

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Now, for all the bad reputation that the NHS has been (partly undeservedly) given, it is a service that I believe Britain should be proud of.

The Aurora shootings highlight the benefits of a national healthcare service.

One of the shooting victims, Caleb Medley suffered severe injuries and is now in a coma. He will wake up to find medical bills of $2 million + and a new baby to support thanks to the US healthcare system.

This just wouldn't happen in the UK, where this would have all been covered by the NHS.

Waiting times can be bad at times but at least there is treatment available to everyone, eliminating class discrimination.

The quality of US healthcare appears to be better from the publicity that we get but it's often a case of 'the more money you have, the better chance you have' and it's often these people with more money that have the loudest voices to praise it.

What are your opinions?

Have you made any assumptions based on what you've heard about the NHS?

Would you like to see a similar system wherever you live?


O B

[Jeppe]

I don't think it's right that poor people can't afford medical treatment. We don't really have this system in Sweden where I live. Here everyone has right to medical treatment, even illegal immigrants. This all included in the taxes here.

We have really really long queues in the emergency room here though, and the treatment could be alot better, trust me. I've been there

But there will probably always be like you say "the more money you have, the better chance you have" unless there is some kind of revolution. It has always been like this.

I don't know much about the british NHS but it sounds good to me, except the money he has to pay.

[Opinionated Brit]

I don't think it's right that poor people can't afford medical treatment. We don't really have this system in Sweden where I live. Here everyone has right to medical treatment, even illegal immigrants. This all included in the taxes here.

We have really really long queues in the emergency room here though, and the treatment could be alot better, trust me. I've been there

But there will probably always be like you say "the more money you have, the better chance you have" unless there is some kind of revolution. It has always been like this.

I don't know much about the british NHS but it sounds good to me, except the money he has to pay.

It costs the government a lot (and arguably the taxpayer) but it is essentially free healthcare. Or at least, the amount you pay in taxes is very rarely anything like the amount you'd pay in medical bills as the costs are divided up much more.

Long waits and busy wards are to be expected but it's better that than nothing at all right?

Sounds like the Swedish system is quite similar

[Zach]

It costs the government a lot (and arguably the taxpayer) but it is essentially free healthcare. Or at least, the amount you pay in taxes is very rarely anything like the amount you'd pay in medical bills as the costs are divided up much more.

Long waits and busy wards are to be expected but it's better that than nothing at all right?

Sounds like the Swedish system is quite similar

Let's not forget that most, if not almost all, of the publicly funded health care systems in the world cost less and have lower overheads than the private insurance system in the US.

In the US we have several public health care programs (Medicare, Medicaid, SCHIP and the VHA) whose overheads are a fraction of those of the private companies:



Besides which, private insurance companies have a legal obligation to their shareholders to maximize profit. But because covering people costs money, they have a huge incentive to cover as few people as possible, and to look for reasons not to provide coverage. That is not the way a health care system should be run.

The free market is not the end-all, be-all solution for everything, If it were, we'd have no need for government at all. We're talking about people's lives, not widgets and gizmos.

[Devon]

I'm in Canada. We get publicly funded healthcare and it's awesome

[Zach]

We have really really long queues in the emergency room here though, and the treatment could be alot better, trust me. I've been there

Yeah that's always the argument used here against a public health care system.

But in the US we too have the same problem. It's probably worse, actually.

[★hank★]

I try to stay out of doctor's offices and hospitals as much as possible. So far I have been lucky. (Crossed-fingers).

One may pick up diseases in hospitals, and in doctor's waiting rooms.......

Other than that, I am happy that we have a national health care system here in Canada....although
I hope that I will never have to use it. My dream is to die in my sleep, in my own bed....

[Banz]

All the services provided by the government are non profit whereas at private hospitals they charge much much higher than the cost price...

Here all government hospitals provide free services, and they're really required. Without those so many people would be unable to afford any treatment and just die.

[Banz]

PS. Just like Hank I don't like visiting a doctor either... the last time I went was 6-7 years ago.