NHS 'insurance system' backed
Insurance proposed for NHS funding
The Royal College of Midwives is the professional association and trade union representing 95 per cent of all the UK’s practising midwives. |  |
Wide discrepancies in spending on different diseases across Britain have been uncovered by the King's Fund thinktank. |  |
One year after the country took a dark turn into state control and an unpleasant, puerile attitude to other people's business. Or is it one year into a brave new world where the country became fitter, healthier and more civilised? |  |
Tuesday, 09, Sep 2008 12:01
The National Health Service should incorporate an insurance system into its funding to improve Britain's standing in global health terms, a thinktank has suggested.
Health group Reform warns Britain is languishing at the bottom of a health league table of countries including Japan, Switzerland, France, Germany and the Netherlands.
Its sweeping proposals for change involve every individual paying an annual tax-funded premium of £2,000 on a health protection provider of their choice.
The government's role would be "transformed" to that of a regulator, incentives would be introduced to encourage gym memberships and a supplementary market would be developed catering for "rare drugs and luxury items".
"The Olympics showed that an open-minded, elitist and rigorous approach can put Britain in the top rank of countries. Healthcare is no different," Reform director Andrew Haldenby said.
"The prime minister has said that the NHS is the best insurance system in the world – it isn't yet by any means, but that is the right ambition."
The Department of Health did not comment on the report prior to its publication.