In the UK, before the NHS existed we had an incredible healthcare system, by the global standards of the time.

It wasn't funded by the state and it wasn't centralised. In my home town, for instance, we had several hospitals. One of them was a specialist Ear Nose and Throat hospital that served patients from a very wide area.

It was funded by donations, both from the living and left in people's wills when they passed. Wealthy people paid, so that poor people could get healthcare. It worked really well.

Then the state got involved and we find ourselves where we are today.