US President Donald Trump has infuriated UK MPs, sparking a backlash with his recent comment on NHS. The President in his usual style with a tweet criticised the US Democrats pushing for a universal health system, and said "thousands of people are marching" in the UK because the NHS is "going broke and not working".
This was believed to be a reference to a Save the NHS march on Downing Street on Saturday, demanding more funding.
Downing Street said Theresa May was "proud" of the UK's system. Organisers of the demonstration said it had been aimed at showing people's "love" for the NHS. The chief executive of NHS England also said the US president had "got the wrong end of the stick".
NHS that has many Asians working for the trusts, represents a free health system for UK residents, funded out of general taxation, though currently due to lack of resources it has been going through a tough time. But without fail it still remains one of the world's best healthcare system. In the US, when people get treatment they have to pay, most often through health insurance providers.
President Trump's tweet came after ex-UKIP leader Nigel Farage appeared on Fox And Friends, one of the president's favourite shows, talking about the weekend march and the perils of UK's high population.
In response, Mr Hunt reportedly said that while he "disagreed with claims made on that march", no-one wanted "to live in a system where 28 million people have no cover".
He added: "NHS may have challenges but I'm proud to be from the country that invented universal coverage - where all get care, no matter the size of their bank balance."
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn - the leader of Her Majesty's Opposition - also hit back, reportedly saying: "People were marching because we love our NHS and hate what the Tories are doing to it."
He added: "Healthcare is a human right."
Asian MPs took also took the media platform to protest against President Trump's comment. Seema Malhotra, told Asian Voice, “Donald Trump wants a health system that checks your wallet before it checks your pulse. That’s not a society we want to live in. We fought for our health system at the point of use. I could not be more proud of our NHS.”
Labour MP Virendra Sharma said, “President Trump’s ill-informed comments on the NHS show yet again how unqualified he is to be President. Not one of the people marching last weekend wants to move to a US style system. Nigel Farage’s lapdog attitude to the US President is embarrassing and tragic, but no more than we expect from him. The NHS is a national institution, it saves lives and is loved by millions. This Tory government has strategically underfunded sections of the NHS to help the argument for privatisation. We must stand against this, for a public sector NHS, free at the point of use.”
Conservative Peer, Lord Popat said, “The NHS is our most cherished institution. Anyone who has ever had to be treated in an emergency situation knows how lucky we are to have it. The Government rightly continues to invest heavily to meet the demands of an ageing population. No system is perfect – but the ideal of ensuring equitable access to all people regardless of who they are, where they come from or what they can afford is utterly priceless. It’s what makes us human – and it’s what makes us British.”
Lib Deem Peer Lord Dholakia told Asian Voice, “The United States is an important ally of the United Kingdom. It is time its President stopped tweeting about issues of which he has no knowledge.
"We know that he has apologised for his previous tweets on matters relating to security and terrorism.
"Trump is dangerously deluded about the NHS. He needs to read up on how his own health system works before attacking others.
“The NHS is a jewel in the crown of UK society. We should always be proud of the fact that British people can see a doctor without the fear and anxiety of being hit by a massive medical bill.
“Trump’s unwillingness to listen to new ideas is not only a damaging indictment of his approach to leadership, but also leaves Americans unhealthier, poorer and with a lower quality of life.”
R Gopal, a GP with the NHS said, “We walk on tight ropes, work within small budgets, and junior doctors are often overworked, but NHS remains the best free medical service in the whole world.”
