Latest EU directive threatens future of NHS, warn MEPs
7th Oct 2004
Policy-makers and Euro-MP's warning on 'Commercialising Health'.
PROPOSALS for an EU Services Directive which would open up EU healthcare provision to cross-border commercial competition could spell the end of the NHS as we know it, according to leading health policy-makers.
Euro-MPs are to discuss the directive with academics and healthcare professionals at a seminar on the impact of commercialisation on the provision of health care across the EU, held as part of a week of activities to mark the European Social Forum, which is being held in London next week and is expected to be the UK's largest-ever political gathering.
The seminar, which is being hosted by London Euro-MP Jean Lambert on behalf of the Green-EFA group in the European Parliament, will be chaired by German MEP Elisabeth Schroedter.
Mrs Lambert, a member of the European Parliament's Employment and Social Affairs Committee and parliamentary rapporteur on co-ordinating cross-border healthcare provision, said: "The proposed Services Directive will have profound implications for the way our health service will operate, by opening up key areas of provision to market-led competition - and it will have a major impact on the rights of consumers and workers in many service industries.
"It is bad legislation, and there is doubtless more to come on healthcare from a new Commission which seems even more deeply wedded to pursuing the neo-liberal agenda than its predecessor.
"This seminar will set out some of the issues, examine some of the real problems faced by public health services across the EU and assess the threat posed by the new directive."
Speakers include David Price, senior research fellow at University College London's Public Health Policy Unit, who will discuss the implications for health provision of liberalisation and the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) treaty and Green Party London Assembly Member and Chair of the London Food Board Jenny Jones, who will discuss the 'Healthy Cities' initiative.
The impact of the proposed services directive on the EU will be described by the European Federation of Public Service Union's policy officer Penny Clarke; the UK perspective will be provided by Tim Curry of the Royal College of Nursing.
Former Green Party MEP and physician Dr Didier-Claude Rod will discuss the French experience of overhauling its health service.
The seminar is the second in a series of events under the banner 'Another City IS Possible!' sponsored by the European Greens to mark the European Social Forum coming to London.
ENDS
Notes
- Journalists and photographers are welcome to attend the seminar, but due to lack of space advancer registration is ESSENTIAL. Please contact Ben Duncan via email or any number below to register.
- The seminar has been sponsored by the Green-EFA group in the European Parliament. See www.greens-efa.org
For more information please contact Ben on 01273 671946, 07973 823358 or press@greenmeps.org.uk Ben Duncan Green MEPs' Media Officer press@greenmeps.org.uk 01273 671946 (office) 07973 823358 (mob)
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