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I have received a reply from EU Trade Commissioner de Gucht to concerns I raised about the EU Free Trade negotiations with the USA and India.
Commissioner de Gucht confirmed that healthcare remains part of these negotiations whose aim of reduction of regulatory barriers may involve mutual recognition of inspection.
This would cause risks for the increasing number of patients whose diagnosis or care is delivered by telemedicine providers.
Investor protection is a key aim of these negotiations as domestic court systems are not considered adequate.
The effect of such extra investor protection through new international EU treaties, with risk of sizeable compensation to corporate healthcare companies if they did not win or forfeited a contract, would be to encourage commissioners with limited resources to favour companies with greatest legal firepower over patient interests.
"The EU is aware of the need for asymmetry in favour of India in the area of procurement.....to provide protection for small and medium scale Indian suppliers" ..... How would that work out in practice? Would that be in patients' best interests?
Corporate interests seem to take precedence over patient protection and their integrated healthcare in these EU Free Trade negotiations with the USA and India.
Healthcare should be excluded from the EU Free Trade Negotiations with the USA and India
I think the British public need to stop being hoodwinked by the NHS being "Free at the point of delivery".
This article highlights what should be the new catchphrase of the NHS.
"Previously owned by the British people for the benefit of the British people, shortly to be owned by Multinational Companies for the benefit of their shareholders".
Re: Trade secrets: will an EU-US treaty enable US big business to gain a foothold?
I have received a reply from EU Trade Commissioner de Gucht to concerns I raised about the EU Free Trade negotiations with the USA and India.
Commissioner de Gucht confirmed that healthcare remains part of these negotiations whose aim of reduction of regulatory barriers may involve mutual recognition of inspection.
This would cause risks for the increasing number of patients whose diagnosis or care is delivered by telemedicine providers.
Investor protection is a key aim of these negotiations as domestic court systems are not considered adequate.
The effect of such extra investor protection through new international EU treaties, with risk of sizeable compensation to corporate healthcare companies if they did not win or forfeited a contract, would be to encourage commissioners with limited resources to favour companies with greatest legal firepower over patient interests.
"The EU is aware of the need for asymmetry in favour of India in the area of procurement.....to provide protection for small and medium scale Indian suppliers" ..... How would that work out in practice? Would that be in patients' best interests?
Corporate interests seem to take precedence over patient protection and their integrated healthcare in these EU Free Trade negotiations with the USA and India.
Healthcare should be excluded from the EU Free Trade Negotiations with the USA and India
Competing interests: No competing interests