National Healthcare Problems

National health care is run by the national government. National health care might allow some individuals to acquire health care who would otherwise be unable to afford to visit a doctor. But there are some problems with national health care.

Lack of Funding

• Taxpayer dollars pay for national health care. However, politicians often attempt minimize taxes in order to keep voters happy. In order to keep taxes lower, health care funding is sometimes cut.

Waiting Lines

• With limited funding, health care has to be rationed. Some medical treatments receive preference over others, meaning some patients wait to receive health care longer than they would in a privatized health care industry. For instance, as of 2009, patients in the United Kingdom do not receive treatment for macular degeneration until they have gone blind in one eye.

Lack of Incentive

• In a privatized health care system, doctors are encouraged to practice medicine as carefully and effectively as possible in order to attract more patients. With nationalized health care, doctors are not encouraged as often to be competitive.

Waste

• With free health care, patients are encouraged to visit a doctor whenever they want. This will increase health care costs, forcing the state to raise taxes or slash health care benefits.

Drug Bans

• Some drugs are banned under a national health care system because they are too expensive. One example is the UK banning of Lapatinib, which fights breast cancer.