Should the Nhs Charge for Health Care

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Rationing the supply of health care services Plan: Upsides of not paying for the NHS | Upsides of paying for the NHS | Assessable for everyone | Low demand | Equal quality | Lower cost for government | Guaranteed treatment | Lower waiting list | Some treatments are too expensive | The NHS is ‘free at the point of use for consumers’ so health care is available to everyone and not just those who can afford it. This is good for the economy as it prevents poorer people from not being able to work as they can get the health care. It also allows people to have a better variety of health care than they would usually be able to afford such as children having free dental care. It also means more immediate health care as doctors don’t need to check for a certain type of insurance before treating a patient. The problem with everyone being able to use the NHS means that it is in high demand. This high demand can mean ‘lengthy waiting lists’. By having to pay for NHS services the service will be less in demand as with minor injuries they are likely to save their money and try to fix it home. This means shorter waiting lists for those in more desperate need to see a doctor. However, for some waiting lists the amount of people on them will stay the same as some health care is inelastic. The NHS offers a high quality of service as it is government regulated. This means that everyone gets the same quality of treatment. If you did have to pay for you treatment then richer people would be able to afford better health care which would not be ethically right. It could also mean a poorer person with a greater need having to wait longer than a richer person as they can’t pay. This could also course a greater class divide in the UK as there will be an inequality between patients which could course strikes and protests. Some people may find this equal quality

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