Monday, 16 April 2012

This is What We're Dealing With

I reproduce, without comment, a reply from Richard Wellings on possible sources of funding in a free market healthcare model. It is a comment from an article he wrote called 'How to Abolish the NHS.'

Firstly, insurance would only be one option once markets had been freed. Charitable organisations could provide treatment for those unable to afford insurance. Indeed many of Britain's most famous hospitals were founded as charitable/religious institutions in the pre-NHS era, often with money donated by generous philanthropists. Moreover, in the late 19th century a large proportion of the population obtained health cover through mutual organisations such as friendly societies. Numerous options would emerge if voluntary solutions were no longer crowded out by coercive state provision.

Secondly, I don't accept the arguments about the limitations of health insurance. Insurers can lay off risk using reinsurance markets. And there is no good reason why elderly people can't be insured - for example through long-term plans that smooth out premiums over time. Equity release schemes could also be used to fund healthcare premiums for the many asset-rich but cash-poor pensioners.

Finally, it's important to point out that funding problems in general would be diminished by the deregulation advocated in the article. Entrepreneurship and innovation would increase productivity in the health sector, making treatment more affordable.

*facepalm*

Tuesday, 10 April 2012

Defend Max Pemberton - Go Spartacus

I have just received from a reliable source that Richard Branson is spitting teeth about an article printed in the Telegraph on Sunday by Max Pemberton. What Pemberton is saying is fairly unremarkable; it's just what everyone else in health has been saying about what a crock of crap the Health Bill is. What is remarkable is that apparentlyBranson is demanding a half page reply; and that a high court injunction was served on Sunday to try to prevent the article being published. Branson is said to be unhappy too about tweeting on the subject and Max could be facing heavy costs because of this; £90 000 has been mentioned as a ballpark figure.


Now we really can't have this at all. I mean, what has the world come to when we have a potential headline 'Leftie Telegraph in Sue Threat by Branson over NHS'? There's really only one answer to this and that's to go Spartacus on it. Is the battle for the NHS over? No. We have only just begun to fight..