With the government's new budget cuts even the NHS ringfenced budet is under review. Currently the biggest single expense for the NHS is the 8 billion plus drug bill.Yet despite this there are still those complaining that they can not get the treatment that they want.
Could online health care services provid aditional options to patients allowing them to buy treatments not available on the NHS. Already hundreds of patients medical records are available online. If the patient is already prescribed treatments after being diagnosed by their GP then any online clinic could prescribe an equivalent treatment allowing the patient greater choice and saving the NHS costs.
Sounds simple and a logical solution but could it work?
Well we asked James Kirby of a leading online clinic Firstmed. He was quite certain in his thinking. "As is the case with health care it all comes down to trust. For online prescribing services to be in a position to work along with the NHS in providing greater choice the government would have to endorse online clinics and possibly create regulatory process. Only then will GP's be confident to endorse such a service".
Is it about to happen though?
James continues.. "Well we are at a crossroads with government costs and patient expectations and somthing will have to go."
It is quite clear that online clinics will benifit and seems to potentially provide benifits to patients however the main obstacle to over come will be government endorsements. Looking at the Alexa popularity of some of these sites its obviouse that there is consumer trust in them maybe with the financial pressure on politicians they too will come round to suporting this growing industry.
