Hymagumba wrote:I've always thought that free prescriptions are likely to have a much smaller effect on taxes than suggested. Passing the enormous tower block in Newcastle where they deal with the ridiculously complex system of exemptions and charges for the system shows how complex and needlessly so it currently it. If its all free, it's therefore much simpler to administer.
I stronly suspect it costs more than £6.70 tp administer the charge in the first place.
Well, given that a tax-transfer system already exists (that is, we tax people, and pay welfare to some), my view is the most cost-effective solution is simply to use that, rather than have a parallel system of determining who has low income and then granting rebates or exemptions. Have everyone pay the market price for their prescriptions, and then ensure people on low incomes have enough money to pay for basic necessities (including, of course, life-saving drugs).
Less simple, but more targeted towards healthcare, is to provide those on low incomes with some kind of concessional card which they can present to pharmacies to 'buy' their prescriptions, with the bill being sent back to the government. I prefer this option less, because it implies some level of state paternalism is required, on the basis that we can't trust poor people to look after their own health.
