Press Release

Co-payment debate

18/06/08

RCGP Chairman Professor Steve Field says: “This is a difficult dilemma and we can see both sides of the argument but there are pros and cons whichever way you look at it.

"The NHS was established to be free to everyone at the point of need and we believe it should remain so but on balance we support relaxation of the existing rather rigid rules. Treatments such as IVF and dentistry have already created anomalies in the system and if patients pay for some of their treatment - which might potentially save their lives - it seems unfair to bar them from accessing wider NHS services.

"Another important issue is to speed up the introduction of effective drugs in the UK - and remove less successful treatments - so that patients can have confidence in the care and services they receive and no-one loses out.”