The decision to abolish user fees in hospitals was a populist policy designed to win over the electorate. I am certain there are many who share this opinion, and who also share my belief that this was an ill-conceived idea. My main objection to the Government's plan is the long-term economic ramifications of the policy.

I am no economist; but being a health-sector worker, I have some idea about what it requires to fund a hospital effectively. I also have a fair idea of what our local resources are and I know with some certainty that public funding of the health-care sector, in this country, at this time is an impossibility. Separate and apart from this, the diversion of billions of dollars of funding into running hospitals, and away from education in a country that has a largely untrained an uneducated population cannot be described as anything but a catastrophic error in judgement. I know the Government will counter with the argument that the education budget is the largest it has ever been. I just do not think it has done enough.

Availability and delivery

Let us examine the issue with cold logic. Let us assume that this policy is a success, inasmuch as it pertains to the goal of improving the availability and delivery of health care. Would this solve the problems of security, education, our economic crisis (by the way, this started way before the current global economic meltdown; we have been in crisis for at least two decades), or our many social ills? The answer: a resounding 'no'. These problems would get much worse.

The reason is simple; we are a developing (I use this word loosely) country with severe limitations in resources. Spending huge sums on health care means that there is that much less for competing needs. I know that as a country we place relatively little value on education, but I do not expect my government to do the same. My expectation is that my government has a long-term view. I have not seen evidence of this.

Speaking as a taxpayer; I am quite willing to make some sacrifice for my children and my children's children. This policy is wasteful and irresponsible and squanders the opportunity given to this government to make a meaningful difference.

I am, etc.,

Dr MICHAEL BROOKS

michael.brooks07@gmail.com