Doctors back review of NHS ‘co-payment’
pharmafile | July 10, 2008 | News story | Sales and Marketing |Â Â Â
UK doctors have voted in favour of allowing patients to pay privately for treatments unavailable on the NHS, but continuing to receive the rest of their standard care on the health service.
The decision was taken at the BMA's annual conference, though the association hung back from asking the government to activate this scheme of 'co-payment' right away.
Instead, a majority of members want ministers to set up an independent review for a wider debate on the subject. It means that, on this rare occasion, the BMA has seemingly sided with the government, as ministers promised to review the current ban on co-payment a few weeks ago.
BMA leader Dr Hamish Meldrum said that in principle patients should be able to buy additional treatment that is not available on the NHS, without being forced to pay for all their treatment privately.
But he added further debate was needed because "doctors recognise there are many potential problems with introducing co-payments, and have suggested a number of safeguards they would wish to see considered were they to be introduced."
On the one hand, a ban on co-payments denies patients treatments that may be to their benefit and forces them to accept healthcare rationing. The counter argument is that a move toward co-payment, or top-ups, is at odds with a fundamental principle of the NHS – that it is free at the point of need and delivery.
The Guardian reported that the complex issue has divided BMA members, almost straight down the middle. A scant majority of just 50.2% voted for the call to review co-payments, with the remainder wanting the scheme activated immediately.
But in its official announcement, the BMA called on the government to set up a Royal Commission to review all the evidence and implications for the NHS and patients and report with recommendations by summer 2009.
