Often used synonymously with national health insurance. They are sometimes usefully distinguished by applying the former to health programs in which the national government directly operates a health system which serves some or all of its citizens and the latter to programs in which the government insures or otherwise arranges financing for health care without arranging for, owning or operating it (although NHI programs usually include some measure of regulation of the financed services).
A government service in the UK which provides medical services free of charge at the point of delivery, or at reduced cost, to the whole population. The service is paid for out of tax revenue.
An approach to health care reform in which the government actually owns the hospitals and employs the physicians, thereby becoming the provider of health services. This is distinguished from national health insurance, in which the government is the sole payer, but not provider.
The UK NHS was inaugurated on 5 July 1948. Its original aim was to provide a comprehensive system of health care to everyone, free at the point of delivery. The service is now devolved to the separate UK countries and funded by National Insurance contributions and from general taxation, with a small amount from patient charges. The structure, functioning and financing of the NHS have been, still are, and presumably always will be undergoing substantial changes.