BMJ, doi: 10.1136/bmj.a440, (Published 19 June 2008)

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NHS might have to attract more private money if it is to improve standards

¹ London

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

The United Kingdom has little choice but to pull more private funds into the NHS, by such methods as allowing patients to top up care by paying out of their own pocket, if it is to maintain and improve healthcare standards in the future, a leading academic said this week.

Chris Ham, professor of health policy and management at Birmingham University, who was giving the first BMJ lecture, pointed out that the UK relied far less on private funding than other Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries. In the UK, 87% of health spending comes from the public purse compared with 72-73% in the average OECD country.

"If we look at our funding levels in the UK compared to OECD countries, we are now at one end of the spectrum. If we are going to fund new technologies, how far are we willing to move in the direction . . . [Full text of this article]

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Rapid Responses:

Read all Rapid Responses

More healthcare at what price?

Peter A West
bmj.com, 20 Jun 2008 [Full text]

slightly misleading outlook

benjamin dean
bmj.com, 21 Jun 2008 [Full text]

more private funding - 60 million uninsured Americans

David Ansell
bmj.com, 23 Jun 2008 [Full text]

Prof Mike Richards responds

Mike Richards
bmj.com, 1 Jul 2008 [Full text]

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Alison L Jones, et al.
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