Critics slam NHS advice to ‘bribe’ obese and smokers
September 27th, 2010 - 3:22 pm ICT by ANILondon, Sep 27 (ANI): Critics have slammed the idea that NHS should pay fat people to lose weight and smokers to quit, and give children toys for eating their fruit and vegetables, according to a report commissioned by its rationing body.
The advice has been greeted with anger by critics, who claimed such “bribes” were draining the public purse of money, which could be better spent elsewhere.
The study examined a series of schemes, including one in Kent, which pays dieters up to 425 pounds for losing weight and another in Scotland, which gives pregnant women shopping vouchers worth up to 650 pounds for quitting the habit.
It also looked at programmes in Oxford, Manchester, London and Bangor in Wales, where schools have been given toys such as juggling balls, stickers and pencils to children who have eaten their fruit and vegetables.
The report said that such rewards could be “an effective way of encouraging people to change their unhealthy ways.”
Fiona McEvoy, from the TaxPayers’ Alliance, said state funds should not be used to pay people to change their lifestyles,
“Bribing people to lose weight or quit smoking is nothing but a quick fix which patronises the individuals in question and drains much-needed money away from the public purse,” the Telegraph quoted McEvoy as saying.
National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence will publish the advice. (ANI)
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