National Health

[fleeing]

(Torurot @ Nov. 07 2009,22:19) Note to all the TomSam detractors,.........
In other words paying taxes qualified him for the free treatment!

Apologies for creating any confusion.
That is exactly what I was attempting to point out in my imprecisely formulated post and not an attempt to flame tomscam.

Surely anyone able to and contributing to the finances (taxation) should be entitled to the same benefits regardless of citizenship. If not why should any foreigner pay any taxes at all?

Interestingly enough, as an expat-Brit, any treatment in the UK is covered by my Danish insurance, as long as I am honest enough to say where I live and work. Quite right too.

[robbo]

some of these replies are absolute wank,i do not doubt that if someone is working long term here and working hard and paying taxes then they could be intitled to something of urgent healthcare,dont assume that im to dumb ignorant to understand that..it is common sense.
however that is not the case with the NHS walk in off the street and you will get treated regardless of who you are or where you come from.......that is the crux of the problem. the NHS is a vast organisation with vast cost.,going back to my previous post,yes it does what it is supposed to do.........eventually, but not as well as it could,not as efficient as it could, it is too broad an organisation open to financial and resource wastage on grand scales.
btw i had the same problems with my back, a prolapsed vertibral disc at the age of 25 the original injury. back then the delays and haphazard nature in my help and treatment were around the same,i do remember at that time feeling very let down and left to my own devices and finances to get private treatment.
and btw Mardhi, what planet are you on? i do happen to have paid many thousands of pounds over the years in taxes so that services such as the NHS can exist and provide what they are there for when i need it.....................insurance i hear you say...yeh thats what i paid my taxes for mate...........i should be covered!
so i pay twice as i said i have gone for private treatment as i needed fast help.i do have some health cover.i also have private liability insurance for my business,mayby you would suggest that if i happen to damage any of my customers property then i should pay them out of my pocket and not claim on my liabilty? makes sense to you?..........not me i pay twice again once for my insurance and once to my customer...........come on common sense.

[tomscam]

Looking at the title of this thread I see that we have gone a little off topic.

I don't see anyone batting for the US system. Is everyone a detractor?

[allstar88]

(katoeylover @ Nov. 07 2009,14:44) Never!!

Despite its obvious faults, the UK NHS works well, with a team of very dedicated drs and support staff.

[strocube]

(tomscam @ Nov. 08 2009,17:55) Looking at the title of this thread I see that we have gone a little off topic.

I don't see anyone batting for the US system. Is everyone a detractor?

Who in their right mind would trade the various forms of decent affordable coverage for the vile shite we're stuck with in the U.S.? We get ass raped by insurance companies, and the dumb rednecks are out protesting to make sure that continues to happen-FUCK. Only in Amerika!  
It may be better than what they have in some gutted third world disaster of a country somewhere, but probably not much.
We may get some "reform" but you can bet your ass it won't be much, and the insurance companies will still come out on top.
I started this thread. You'd have to be a total moron to defend the system we have here.
Any total morons out there? Hello, where are the "free enterprise" people?

[manarak]

I'm for free emergency and basic medical help.
I would also throw in a yearly health check-up for free, like checking cholesterine levels, some cancers, etc.
I would also eliminate civil responsibility for doctors under the free scheme, except in cases of gross incompetence that would cost them their licence anyway.

People who have problems because they are ate too much fat or because they drank too much or because they smoked too much should pretty much be told to fuck off.

[tomscam]

Who in their right mind would trade the various forms of decent affordable coverage for the vile shite we're stuck with in the U.S.

I take it we have no supporters for the US system......

Anyone seen "Sicko"?

It seems that the land of the free isn't that free if you have no money.

[Torurot]

"Greatest" country in the world if you have money, lots of it.

[marshal]

(manarak @ Nov. 09 2009,00:45) I'm for free emergency and basic medical help.
I would also throw in a yearly health check-up for free, like checking cholesterine levels, some cancers, etc.
I would also eliminate civil responsibility for doctors under the free scheme, except in cases of gross incompetence that would cost them their licence anyway.

People who have problems because they are ate too much fat or because they drank too much or because they smoked too much should pretty much be told to fuck off.

Last paragraph is a bit over the top?

[anthony70]

i dont think so.
if you didnt take care of your car engine, putting in the wrong fuel, or dont bother with the oil, and it obviously fucks up.
should the government/tax payer pay for your new engine.?

[kahuna]

Perhaps a more compassionate society might say, maybe we can teach people
to eat better and help them to stop smoking...Its health care...It doesn't always have
to be solely reactive...

[anthony70]

the uk do a great deal towards this.
all nicotine replacement products are now free.
and it seems every other programme on the tv, is about food.

[allstar88]

would what the average brit pays in tax pay for a better private health care?

[Socrates999]

(kahuna @ Nov. 08 2009,08:22) In the USA I'm one of the lucky few...I'm eligible for health care through the
Veterans Administration...which has many hospitals and clinics throughout the
United States staffed by dedicated doctors and other medical practitioners...

It's certainly not perfect, but it is either very inexpensive or free...But most importantly
it is a shining example that it could work here on a much larger scale...

Damn you socialists!

[Socrates999]

(fleeing @ Nov. 08 2009,14:20) ... Surely anyone able to and contributing to the finances (taxation) should be entitled to the same benefits regardless of citizenship. If not why should any foreigner pay any taxes at all? ...

Surely the 500 BAHT PER DAY, EVERY DAY OF THE YEAR (no joke!), that I pay in Thai income taxes, should cover a bit more than the clean streets, beautiful sidewalks and bike lanes, competent and honest law enforcement, fresh air and lightning fast IT infrastructure that I've got here in Bangkok.

I'm going to run this past the desk the next time I'm at Bumrungrad, 'cuz I'm happiest when I can bring joy and laughter to others.

Come to think of it, I guess I DO get the same benefits that the average Thai citizen gets.