NHS

Great Britain has had the "National Health Service" for over 50 years. When it was introduced in 1948, it's main goal was to give every person the same access to medical treatment, no matter what their social status, or income is. There are no fees when going to the physician like it is the case in germany for example. Normally patients have to partially pay for their pharmaceuticals, dental treatments and glasses, but it is relatively easy to be freed from this contribution (children, senior citizens). These circumstances lead to a situation in which not even half the people have to pay anything for their medical care.

The health system is devided into different levels. Primary care, secondary care and sometimes teriary care. Primary care describes the medical care in immediate vicinity (unmittelbarer nähe). When talking "about secondary care" one is talking about health care performed by specialists such as dentists, cardiologists or psychologists. Sometimes a third level - being tertiary care - is named. Highly professionalized

Normally, a patient first has to consult his General Practitioner (GP). The postal code in which the patient lives determines which GP he has to consult. Large cities usually have several GPs per disctrict, but there are still not a lot of choices one can make when it comes to picking a GP. The General Practitioner is also - other than in Germany - responsible for medical examinations such as windpocks or preventive cancer inspections. If necessary, the GP transfers the patient to a specialist or a hospital. Often more than one GP work in one practice or medical center in which most of the time multiple services, such as physiotherapy or dental care are also offered. The GPs are payed by the ammount of people they care for which is calculated through lists. They can also perform services which are not regularely included in "primary health care" and thereby make it a free of charge service to the patient.

More than 70% of NHP's financing is funded by taxes. About 20% come from social insurance contribution and another 5% come from various fees. All in all, Great Britain's health system is a tax funded, public service. Sadly it is becomeing more and more clear that this funding system is not working perfectly. In the fiscal year (finanzjahr) 2005/2006 there was a deficit of about 750 million euro. Reforms, cut backs and inclusion of private companies into the system is what is being tried in order to get the finances back on track again. Most of Great Britains citizens are satisfied with National Health Service, even though there are a couple of downsides, such as the long time patiens often have to wait for surgery or appointements with GPs. All in all it is one of the world's best health system though when viewed objectively according to the World Health Organistion.