So what is supposed to happen?

Reading the Herald Online this morning I saw an article relating to the amount of money spent by the DHB's on some paitents from overseas, inelligable for the 'free' health care we receive racking up massive bills then leaving the country.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10545723

To be honest, it is a concern. Its a concern that millions of scarce health sector funding dollars are spent on non regular tax paying people. Its a shame that millions after millions of our dollars are spent on trying to save the lives of people who have accidents through or not through fault of their own. Its sad that we as a people may get to the point of saying..."hang on, your having a heart attack, but because you are not a resident of this country, we need to know who is going to pay for this before we figure out how to fix you."

To me, that is not right. Some one comes to your hospital, sure the hard questions need to be asked, but in all, to refuse to treat someone because they cannot pay for it is the same as euthanasia to me. And is that not illegal in this country? Could this not be considered manslaughter? At the very least medical negligence?

I really dont know if anyone has the ideal answer to the question as to what to do, and I doubt there will be a best solution to the issue. Someone will always be caught short, either the person who is ill or the New Zealand tax payer having to eventually foot the bill. On balance though, I would rather spend some money on a person from overseas, who is having real problems with their health, on the damage caused to a self inflicted smoker who has been warned at least of the dangers.