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Re:I'm a Brit and America, your health care system is tortur... by growlist on Friday January 04, 2019 @01:29PM (#18826403)
Meanwhile, here in the UK the NHS - weaponised by the left and virtually above criticism/reform as a consequence - tortures people by making them wait months/years for treatment due to rationing of care, this rationing in no small part being due to the fact that care is free at the point of delivery, which leads some people to abuse the service. Even a token £10 charge for GP visits, for example (subsidised for the genuinely incapable of paying) - similar to the Netherlands - would likely deter many of the unnecessary visits, and raise desperately needed revenue. I would gladly pay. But any/all genuine reform is blocked by the left raising the spectre of privatisation. So let's not pretend we have the all the answers here in the UK.
Re:I'm a Brit and America, your health care system is tortur... by aequitas on Friday January 04, 2019 @02:07PM (#18826741)
Here in the Netherlands we are not charged for visiting the GP (thanks Theme Hospital for learning me this term). Only for specialist treatments or medicine after diagnose you pay either a deductible if it falls within base insurance or 'normal' prices if you're not additionally insured.

This is so nobody is discouraged from visiting the doctor for help.

Re:I'm a Brit and America, your health care system is tortur... by amaccuish on Friday January 04, 2019 @02:29PM (#18826949)
> But any/all genuine reform is blocked by the left raising the spectre of privatisation

I don't know if you didn't notice, but the Conservatives have been in power since 2010, and until recently have had majorities. They could have introduced the charge you suggest, but haven't. This isn't a left/right issue. Please don't turn this into some left v right brawl.