An article in the Economist noted that the National Health Service (NHS) in the United Kingdom is “free at the point of delivery.”

a. What does “free at the point of delivery” mean? Is health care actually free to residents of the United Kingdom? Briefly explain.

b. The same article suggested that the views of the average person in the United Kingdom “have made it impossible even to think about boosting NHS revenue by charging patients a nominal sum for visiting the doctor.” Briefly discuss what advantages the NHS might receive if it were allowed to charge patients for doctor’s visits, as happens in most other countries, including the United States. Are people reluctant to see the government take this step only because they don’t want to spend money on visiting the doctor? Briefly explain.