Rationing is essential in tax-funded health systems.

The article discusses the reaction to various decisions made by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) in Great Britain dealing with funding. A recent appeals rejection against several drugs that are to fight Alzheimer's disease was criticised as being a blatant example of NICE's cost cutting. While many voted for a national health system, many do not understand that with free medical care comes lower funding for everyone. Nevertheless, the current British government continually states that patients have a choice in their treatment options, something that they are not holding true to. The government must realize that a tax-based health care system is going to involve reduced medical options and make the public aware of this.