Abstract
The first national strike in the NHS for nearly 20 years took place in London in September last year. This seems to be of bad omen for the British Health Care system. Before we go further into the subject, let us remember how health care used to be before any protection system existed in the UK. Throughout the 19th century, in Great Britain, philanthropists tried to provide free medical care for the poor. Some people, like William Marsden, a young surgeon, opened dispensaries for advice and medicines. Any poor and sick person could go and be provided with care free of charge. Charitable and voluntary hospitals as well as municipal hospitals also existed, but they mainly tended to look after people suffering from serious diseases like smallpox, tuberculosis or mental handicap. In fact, social protection has long been based on familial solidarity and private initiatives. Nevertheless in 1911, David Lloyd George, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, introduced the National Insurance Act which dealt with old age pensions, unemployment benefit and state financial support for the sick and infirm.
