What are the strengths and weaknesses of the nhs in the uk?
The UK NHS is free at the point of use but not actually free. It is paid for out of taxation, especially the National Insurance Contributions (NIC) of employed people and their employers. About one-sixth (and as much as one-quarter in some cases) of income is deducted at source. The theory is that employed people and their employers should pay for those who are unable to work because of sickness or age or other serious difficulties. This is all a good idea and works very well when the percentage of employed people is rising in the population. Basically, it works well when the population average age is static or falling, as it was from about 1946 to 1975. There were plenty of working people and successful businesses to pay the NHS bills. The major weakness is apparent when the proportion of working population is falling and/or if the average age is rising. In this circumstance, two factors work against the NHS. First, the number of contributors is falling and so their contributions must
