Private medical insurance (PMI) intermediaries should lobby Government over the amount of regulation and red tape drowning the sector, according to Michael Portillo.
Addressing delegates at the AMII conference, Portillo encouraged the industry to come together and tackle the high level of bureaucracy in the market but warned that a precise agenda is required.
"People are too afraid to say what regulations they want to see rescinded. But there is far too much bureaucracy and boxticking. It is important to lobby and be specific in what regulations you want to get rid of. This would be welcomed. The Government is supposedly in favour of deregulation," he said.
Commenting on the state of the UK's healthcare system, Portillo condemned politicians for its lack of progress but admitted things will not change overnight.
"Politicians have done the health service an enormous disservice. For the last 50 years, health has been used as a political football, which is a reason for its lack of development," he said.
Despite certain developments between the private and public sectors under the current Government, Portillo slammed the lack of progress in the UK healthcare sector, blaming the "lunatic idea" that the public versus private debate is one of good against evil.
"The UK health system is so far behind other countries and the pressure on healthcare funding is enormous. Yet, despite the establishment of foundation hospitals and specialist dialysis units, the rhetoric has had to remain that privatisation is a very bad thing. The hostility towards the private sector is baffling," he said.
Portillo added: "There is a proper debate to have on the reform of the NHS. The challenge is to bring together the maximum amount of resource to get the best solution."
