As this fabulous paper against the medical monopoly makes clear, state monopolies initially set up to protect standards in the name of public interest invariably degenerate into the total and utter reputational shambles that they pretend to oppose.
It is with this in mind that I recently noted this story . You cannot make it up really. If only the Competition Commission would intervene to end the General Medical Council’s monopoly then perhaps things might start to turn around for doctors’ reputations.
For if allowed to chose, consumers would finally be free to decide between different brands, schools and philosophies of doctor. In such a world I would not chose a GMC doctor. Like millions of others, I would go out of my way to avoid members of an organisation that has consistently given the impression it exists to administer clubbable cover-ups for the benefit of its relatively well-healed members.
Come to think of it, why doesn’t the government allow a rival Competition Commission? Oh, no, silly me! That would be far too much like a market. Yes, it is much better to have one monopolist in the name of the ‘public interest’!
Serious point: to truly break state healthcare you have to sweep aside the medical monopoly. In the UK, that means removing the legislation that surrounds protected groups like the GMC. Like all other moral outfits they should stand or fall by their reputation in open, diverse and honorable competition. NFR says, let the people decide.
