This commentary explores some of the issues raised by Gilbert
et al.
short communication,
Morality and Markets
in the NHS
. The increasing role of market mechanisms and the changing types of healthcare providers together
with the use of choice and competition to drive improvements in quality in the National Health Service (NHS),
all have important ethical implications. In order for the NHS to continue providing the level of service quality
that out performs many high-income countries, despite spending much less on healthcare, we need a re-think of
creeping marketization and privatisation and a consolidation of the NHS as a publically owned resource run for
the benefit of patients and the public, not commercial interest
