Healthcare and the private medical insurance (PMI) market have been a hot topic this month. And the ...
Healthcare and the private medical insurance (PMI) market have been a hot topic this month. And the recent Association of Medical Insurance Intermediaries (AMII) conference brought a number of issues to light.
The public versus private debate has been raging for some time and the struggles of the NHS have been well documented. Coupled with the growing involvement of the private sector in treating NHS patients, it is clear that there is a need for change in the UK healthcare system. But will a solution ever be reached? And who will gain from it?
Michael Portillo addressed delegates at the AMII event and admitted politicians have handled the situation badly. His comments can be seen on page 12 of this issue. But while Portillo calls for reform, he does not have a solution. And that is the problem.
Despite calls from insurers, intermediaries and various political and Government representatives to put healthcare at the top of the agenda, it seems no one knows where to start. There have been talks of passport systems, top-up facilities, greater consumer choice and a whole host of other ideas that would go some way to marrying the private and public sectors and alleviating some of the pressure on the NHS. But despite the talk, there has been little action.
Slowly, the concept of healthy living is creeping into the mindset of UK consumers. But the true cost of healthcare and paying for it directly or through PMI are unfamiliar waters, and a luxury many cannot afford.
Admittedly, healthcare is not a luxury, it is a necessity. But falling sales of individual PMI, rising pressure on the NHS and increasing medical costs means the UK healthcare market is in a dire situation. The challenge is to act on it together, or face the consequences.
Angela Faherty, editor
