Co-payment debate
18/06/08
RCGP Chairman Professor Steve Field says:
“This is a difficult dilemma and we can see both sides of the
argument but there are pros and cons whichever way you look at
it.
"The NHS was established to be free to
everyone at the point of need and we believe it should remain so
but on balance we support relaxation of the existing rather rigid
rules. Treatments such as IVF and dentistry have already created
anomalies in the system and if patients pay for some of their
treatment - which might potentially save their lives - it seems
unfair to bar them from accessing wider NHS services.
"Another important issue is to speed up the
introduction of effective drugs in the UK - and remove less
successful treatments - so that patients can have confidence in the
care and services they receive and no-one loses out.”
Ends
For more information please contact the RCGP press
office 020 7344 3135/3136/3137/3129 or email press@rcgp.org.uk