This group is working towards keeping the NHS from further privatization. After watching what has occurred in the US, they don’t want the same companies handing contract with the NHS that lobbied against healthcare reform in America. There are also some European firms named as well as United Healthcare.
They are afraid of what we have here with citizens not having insurance and access to healthcare. BD
The world's first global trade union is to launch an investigation into private US-based companies which are bidding for contracts in the NHS.
Workers Uniting, which brings together the US-Canadian United Steelworkers and Britain's largest single union Unite, plan to launch the investigation following the passing of US President Barack Obama's Health Care Bill through the US Senate.
Many of the private companies being offered contracts in the NHS by the Department of Health have, ironically, actively lobbied and campaigned against the Bill in the US.
Companies bidding for contracts in the NHS to provide services include United Healthcare, BUPA and Europe's largest accounting firm KPMG.
United Steelworkers International vice-president Carol Landry said that millions of workers around the world "believe now is the time to stop putting profits over people and to recognize that health care is a human right, no matter where you live."
Public-sector union Unison and health campaigners have called on the government to end private involvement in NHS service delivery.
"There can be no place in the NHS for those same companies who are going out of their way to wreck any moves towards health-care policies in the US and the government should slap an immediate ban on the awarding of any new contracts to these parasites."
Battle to stop the NHS bloodsuckers / Britain / Home - Morning Star