Britain's free healthcare system is a mirage, charges a report released Monday by leading doctors.
The report, published by Doctors for Reform, accuses the government of being in denial about the role of the private sector in Britain's healthcare system.
Faced with long waiting lists and lotteries for treatment, patients increasingly pay extra to upgrade the treatment they receive, said Doctors for Reform, which represents 1,000 British physicians.
The report condemns Britain's two-tier health system, where people with money have access to a variety of treatments and those without money do not, the London-based Telegraph reported.
"We need to face up to this rather than ignore it," the report said in calling for open debate about the future of healthcare funding in Britain.
Copyright 2007 by United Press International
