Marxist views on health policy

[blueeyedboy]

Hi comrades, I need some ideas on marxist views of health, basically what marxist thinkers think of the present health system. I know this will pain everybody, but I need some criticisms of the marxist view as well.

I live in England, so this essay needs to focus on the English health system.

Thanks

[Whitten]

A marxist qritique of the NHS as is would go something like this:
-Incomplete cover: Doesnt cover dental or optical health treatments for adults.
-Often selects and refueses to apply certain treatments and drugs in order to increase cost efficiancy.
-inability of the system to cope with what is required, while it remains easy to get treatment quickly if you go private.
-Internal market results in a money before health prioritization
-Inefficiant government linked beurocracy, which could be run much more efficiantly by coordination between medical professionals and a an oversight committee which can make more decisions without government approval or new legislation.

A critique of the marxist view would probably go like this:
-People shouldnt be forced to pay for someone elses treatment (esspecially if they life a high risk life style).
-Public sector is inefficiant.
-Encourages people to use their local doctors or hospitals for things they wouldnt otherwise consider serious. This may cause longer waiting times and lists.
-Lack of enough internal pressure to deliver a performance per sterling efficiancy.
-May be abused by increasing immigraion.

[blueeyedboy]

Thanks Whitten, but are your points from sources, i.e. can you back them up. It's just that I have to reference my information, so if possible, can you provide references for some of your points.

[Dewolfemann]

Type "Social Determinants of Health" into google or any academic search engine and you will find many marxists with an interest in health economics