Controversial but personally I think the UK should replace the NHS with a subsidised

private system. The NHS model was perfect for its time but these days diagnosis is far earlier and more common, people are far more likely to visit a doctor, the population is greater and the medical profession is less attractive than industry. The worst would be the US or BUPA models which is what everybody thinks of when hearing the word "private" (e.g. pre-existing condition clauses and refusing to pay out etc), but in reality what we have in many European countries such as the Netherlands and France seems to work far better than the NHS while also being actually far more accessible.

My experience with NL is short waiting times, great treatment, and even when my ex was diagnosed with breast cancer without having any health insurance, not only did they not refuse her, but backdated the insurance to her first appointment a couple of months previous. The care was amazing, allowing us to tailor the treatment after a second opinion from the Royal Cancer institute, and even paid for her to take taxis to her radiotherapy appointments which were at a hospital a bit further away than usual.

I pay about 125 euros per month but if you're employed, usually an employer will pay at least part of that and if you're long term unemployed it will be paid for (if you're short term then you get 70% of your last salary from the dole anyway so shouldn't need subsidy). Now I am self employed I have to pay a few grand each year for it as I don't get the subsidy that non self-employed people get, and that in itself is funding much of the subsidy.

I would say be open minded to different models and don't see the NHS as holy. Doing that has seen the NHS fall behind other health services.

Having said all that, I think it is a conflict of interest having a health minister with such ties. Let's face it, the insurance companies here don't behave like that our of humanity, but because they are regulated by the government (e.g. it is illegal to refuse health insurance). I'm sure if, like the UK, there was no similar regulation in place then the insurance companies would be veering hard toward the US model.

Posted By: Steve in Holland, Jan 8, 12:30:32