The UK health system could again become the envy of the world if the Government will allow the integ...
The UK health system could again become the envy of the world if the Government will allow the integration between the public and private sectors to develop, according to Sir Bryan Nicholson, chairman of BUPA.
Speaking on healthcare funding at a recent investment club function, Nicholson said there have been significant steps in this direction, but it is very important that the public should be allowed to top up their mandatory entitlement to care with whatever additional expenditure they choose to add.
Nicholson said: 'The more effective and most popular health systems are those that allow the integration of voluntary and mandatory funding at the point of source. The best means to assure universal access and equity is by the distribution of the mandatory funding component. This ensures that everyone gets a decent level of service, but if people want more they can buy it.'
Despite Government expenditure on the health service increasing annually by 5.7% over the last three years, Nicholson said a more effective way of bringing about better services could be achieved through the integration of funding in both the mandatory and voluntary streams.
