Quote:
Originally Posted by desertgrandma
For those of you 'over across the pond', who have universal health care, your system has been in place for how long?
Surely it didn't happen within a few months, like this president is trying accomplish.
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You're right - rushing through legislation for an attempt at a quick fix is never a good idea. Here's a rough timetable of the NHS:
The UK NHS has been in place for a little over 60 years. there was broad cross-party support for some kind of national health service, first announcement of intent happening in late 1941, with reports following in 1942 from medical bodies and especially the Beveridge Report in last 1942. There was opposition from the British Medical Association, but the proposed legislation (White Paper) was put forward in 1944. The final legislation was passed in 1946, and the NHS coming into being on 5th July 1948.
So yes, it took several years. And there has been change and reforms in the subsequent years, but the essentials are still there:
- services are provided free at the point of use
- services are financed from central taxation
- everyone is eligible for care