Proposed charge on prescriptions

Press, 14 March 1977, Page 16

Proposed charge on prescriptions

Sir, — Mr Gill’s proposal to make a charge on prescriptions is deplorable. The people this will affect most are those least able to afford such charges. The young and the old, also the chronically sick. Mr Gill excuses his action to come, by stating that “SBM would become available for other hospital expenses.” In view of the high rate of income tax paid by the wage and salary earner, surely SBM could be made a\ affable as an extra to

health services. This would be a small percentage of total tax collected. I feel we are heading towards the unhealthy situation of American health services, where profit is made from people’s illness or accident. — Yours, etc.,

C. M. COSSAR, March 11, 1977.

Sir, — Who in our society supports another adult as well as one, two, and usually mare children on a single salary? Who pays more in electricity bills because he is obliged to keep the house warm all day? His wife and children cannot escape to a heated office. Whose food bill was hardest hit when food . subsidies were removed and bread, milk and butter rose drastically in price? Who is now going to say to his wife: “No. don’t take the kids to the doctor. We cannot afford doctor’s fees and prescription charges. We shall just have to risk it and. hope that it is nothing serious.” For goodness sake, don’t they want a next generation? — Yours, etc., B. W. DAVIES. March 12. 1977.

Sir. — Some years ago. as a tax-payer. I paid what was called a social security tax

and was assured by successive Governments that this was a tax imposed to provide the money for social welfare needs; from hospital beds to free prescriptions; from old age benefits to preventive medicine. A few years ago we were told that the tax structure was being rationalised and that the social security tax would merge and become a part of general taxation. That happened. Now a new social security tax is being imposed, by way of a charge on prescriptions and is justified by Mr Muldoon as being necessary for medical research and preventive medicine. I protest. I have already paid my social security tax. I am afraid for the concepts of social justice. — Yours, etc., R. W. CHAPMAN. March 11, 1977.