Letter: NHS in crisis

Sir: We shall enter the new millennium as we leave this one with public health care in crisis. Not because of finite resources but because health, like housing and education, is a poor competitor when compared with the "essentials" of society such as advertising, weapons and banking.

This absurdity is a consequence of running society in the interests of the wealthy. Governments cannot withstand the rich as they move their investments to the profitable areas of the globe. Hence countries compete for investment by offering low wages, low taxation and poor social welfare.

If we wish to institute social health we must remove power from the rich. Then we can set humane priorities.

RIC BEST

Lancaster