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The Government should move to abolish prescription charges, writes Fabian General Secretary Sunder Katwala.
Writing in the Tribune magazine, Katwala says such a move could mirror the Conservatives' popular proposals to raise the inheritance tax threshold, and could test Cameron's avowed commitment to progressivism.
"There is a lesson here for Labour's fightback after May's local election drubbing. But that lesson is not the necessity of retreat in the face of right-wing attacks. Rather it is how Labour could mirror that Tory coup with a popular agenda rooted in our values", he said.
Katwala's proposals come as the Fabian Society celebrates the NHS' 60th anniversary with a health-themed edition of the Fabian Review, including policy proposals to improve public health.
Abolishing prescription charges this year - as Labour did in Wales last year - would be an appropriate time to further strengthen the NHS' founding principle of universal access, free at the point of use, Katwala said.
“Let us test David Cameron's passion for the NHS. Why not take his slogan of 'sharing the proceeds of growth' and show that need not mean putting tax cuts ahead of investment in public services. Labour could share the proceeds of growth via a more popular route: a manifesto pledge to reduce prescription charges year on year in the next Parliament, seeking to abolish them entirely as resources allow.”
There is also reason to believe the public is broadly behind the NHS' universal ethos - a Fabian poll conducted by YouGov found that 70% of people approve of the NHS and consider it a 'great national symbol' of Britain.
Prescription charges are currently £7.10 per item, and raise around £1bn per year, or about 1% of the NHS' total budget. But Katwala argues that charging for prescriptions can have adverse effects on health outcomes, causing some people to not take prescribed medicines, and raising health costs in the long-term.
Prescription charging was introduced in Britain in 1951, leading to the resignation of NHS architect Nye Bevan. Wales have gradually phased out prescription charges, whilst Scotland is following suit, with full abolition planned for 2011.
"Labour must unite for the battle ahead. What better tribute could there be to the founding father of the NHS than to once again make prescriptions free."
Related Publications
Spring 2008 Healthy Issue Fabian Review
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