Prescription Charges.....

[ToraToraTora]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-24985242
Are these idiots incapable of arithmetic? They might as well abolish it altogether, only about 3 people ever pay anyway.

[bednobs]

so YMB, are you saying that allcomers should get pills for free then

[bazwillrun]

"so how can you say it costs more to administer, when you don't actually know?
I would guess that you perhaps are a payer for prescriptions and are grumpy about it? "

so how can you say
"I would guess that you perhaps are a payer for prescriptions and are grumpy about it? "

when YOU dont actually know ???!

[bazwillrun]

first off they should stop all the free-loading immigrants who have never ever paid in a penny from getting free prescriptions.

[bednobs]

because of the second word and question mark!

[bednobs]

i'm really struggling to see people's point. People should pay? people shouldn't pay? People should pay if they "deserve" their illness?

[Baldric]

I got it wrong on previous page, it's £104 not £108 per year'
made a big difference!

http://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/1127.aspx

[Sqad]

My opinion:

Nobody, but nobody should have FREE prescriptions, the under 65's should pay the full whack and the over 65's (OAP) should pay 10% of the total cost of the prescription.
The present system whereby one is entitled to "fillhis/her" boots with free drugs just because they have a chronic illness is ludicrous.

[Mamyalynne]

Interesting point sqad - what of the under 65's who cannot afford their medication ?

[Sqad]

mamy....what do the under 65's do in other countries, eg U.S Spain, France etc, they just HAVE to find the money........sons, daughters and family should help out. Other countries seem to manage with excellent survival rates for most of the common killers.
The UK just whinges on.....the Welfare State...we will look after you from birth to the grave.....that is deep in the UK psyche.
One either accepts a lower standard of medical care OR everybody pays something more to the NHS as at the moment it is unsustainable.

[wolf63]

It is said that those in Scotland get free prescriptions. I think that this is wrong as the money for these drugs has to come from somewhere else within the NHS budget.

[Mamyalynne]

Point taken.

[jake-the-peg]

Yes well we know your opinion about socialistic practices around the NHS

However most of us in *this* country like the way it means that we're all guaranteed treatment and we're never going to be in a situation like many in other countries desperately worrying about how we might pay for expensive medecines

One of the points I think T3 is missing about funding and administering is that the huge purchasing power of the NHS means that a fair few of the most common drugs it prescribes are much cheaper than the prescription cost.

Amoxycillin for example - one of the most common antibiotics 3 week course a couple of quid

http://www.chemistdirect.co.uk/amoxicillin-capsule-500mg_4_12761.html

That subsidises the cost of administering the system

[ToraToraTora]

How about this then, if 10% pay ten quid the why not charge everyone a pound instead, same income and we all pay the same. It angers me that those that pay for the whole show get jack and the wsc get it all for nowt. I'd be a bit less angry if I didn't have to pay a tenner for something that is a shilling a cwt every 3 months.

[Sqad]

Jake-the Peg.

Don't worry....nothing will change...sticking plasters here, a bit of glue there...the NHS will survive.

This is the problem with State financed medicine, once you are in, you are in for good, it is a totally political animal and both sides of the political spectrum relize this, know what should be done, but to scared to do it.

The doctors in State Medicine are having a ball, good pay, no competition and a certain political party who are willing to give them more money for less work.

Jake.......you will always have State medicine in the UK.....don't worry.

[Mamyalynne]

Jake, I made the point that some drugs are cheaper than the prescription charge, but you cannot buy over the counter earlier in the discussion.

[ToraToraTora]

don't turn this into your favourite subject sqad. For al it's short commings an NHS of sorts is the only civilised way for a nation to have health care. Look at the US.

[Sqad]

3T........I am just giving my opinion, invited by your OP and it is not my fault that you don't like my comments.

The thread has NOTHING to do with healthcare in the USA.

[ToraToraTora]

Nor is it to do with state v private health care.

[Sqad]

3T....sorry....I have missed your point. Can you point out where i or anyone else has mentioned Private Health Care in this thread?

[ToraToraTora]

you are sl&gging of the NHS as usual, one assumes there for that you are promoting another way.