American Trump fans, does it annoy you that we have nationalised health care and it pretty much works?
Also I hear it works in other countries that have it.
This page is a permanent link to the reply below and its nested replies. See all post replies »
Sharon · F
Except in England (not Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland) there's a £9.00 per item prescription tax - even for drugs such as penicillin which cost pence.
QuixoticSoul · 41-45, M
@Sharon Those drugs are basically at rock bottom prices at this point, they're even cheap in US. That price mostly just covers oversight stuff, there is not a lot of profit in penicillin.
Sharon · F
@QuixoticSoul Sorry, I'm not sure what point you're making. My point was that only English patients in the UK have to pay the £9.00 tax, Scots, Welsh and Northern Irish patients are treated free of charge.
QuixoticSoul · 41-45, M
Sharon · F
@QuixoticSoul The NHS is supposed to be funded by general taxation, the prescription tax is additional and only applies in England. £9.00 doesn't sound much but it soon adds up for poorer people who perhaps need 2 or 3 different drugs monthly. Children and people over 60 are exempt. The really destitute can apply for exemption too but the average English person has to pay.
QuixoticSoul · 41-45, M
@Sharon I don't think a small copay is necessarily unfair, and regional differences might be allowed as long as there is democratic oversight (ie: did you guys vote yourselves this tax?) - but in a system funded by general taxation, why not simply roll it in? It's an accounting problem at that point.
Sharon · F
@QuixoticSoul Scotland has its own parliament and Wales has the "Welsh Assembly" looking after their respective countries. Northern Ireland also had an assembly but it's not sitting at the moment. There is no English parliament or asssembly, we like to think we rule the whole of the UK.