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The Guardian are reporting: Ministers invite private companies to manage NHS services
Quote:
Alan Johnson, the health secretary, alarmed health unions yesterday by opening up a new market for the management of NHS services worth up to £70bn.
He approved a list of 14 private companies that would be available to help primary care trusts in England evaluate the health needs of local people and buy appropriate services. If the trials succeed, the companies may influence the commissioning of services ranging from family planning to chiropody.
The firms include four big US healthcare corporations: Aetna, Humana, Health Dialog Services and UnitedHealth, the Minneapolis-based company whose European division is headed by Tony Blair's former senior health adviser.
The Department of Health said the companies would offer trusts "a bank of specialist expertise". They would be able to analyse data identifying local health problems and negotiate cost-effective contracts with NHS and private sector providers. The trusts control most of the NHS's £90bn annual budget.
The proposal first emerged last year when the department's commercial directorate advertised in the EU's official journal inviting companies to bid to take over the purchase of healthcare for millions of NHS patients. It said the companies might also take over district nursing and other services provided by the PCTs.....
Ministers invite private companies to manage NHS services
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