Media Release
TTIP - NHS European Office pushes for strong safeguards for the NHS
***Under embargo until 00:01 Tuesday 18 November 2014***
The headline-grabbing free trade pact currently being negotiated between the
European Union and the United States, the Transatlantic Trade and Investment
Partnership (TTIP), poses both threats and opportunities for the NHS, says the NHS
European Office.
Public debate recently has been fiercely polarised, with competing claims on the one
hand that the deal will lead to wholesale privatisation by opening the NHS to
“takeover” by American companies, or will offer huge benefits in improving
healthcare standards and creating British jobs. The report issued today by the NHS
European Office sheds light on how the deal could impact on the NHS, separating
myth from fact.
One area of particular concern is the possibility that, under TTIP, American
corporations could challenge domestic health policy measures using trade arbitration
panels, instead of filing claims before regular courts. This is already happening under
other international trade agreements: for example tobacco giant Philip Morris has
challenged the Australian Government on their introduction of cigarette plain
packaging recently. The NHS European Office has concerns that this could
potentially result in “policy freeze” in the future, as UK governments might think twice
about introducing new policy if they fear potential challenges.
Elisabetta Zanon, director of the NHS European Office, said:
“Negotiations are still at an early stage and the wording of the trade pact has not yet
been agreed, so it is impossible to predict exactly the impact on the NHS. But we are
watching developments closely, as we have identified areas that may ring warning
bells. We want to make sure that there are no adverse consequences for the NHS,
and also that the UK doesn’t miss out on opportunities to raise standards and
promote cutting-edge technologies that will benefit patients.
“Nothing in TTIP will stop the four UK countries deciding, through their
democratically elected governments, how to run their own health systems. But the
UK can press for certain kinds of services, such as publicly funded health services,
to be protected from the scope of the trade pact. The precise wording of the final
TTIP agreement will be critical in determining the extent to which NHS services may
be affected.
“The NHS European office has a key role to play, keeping a close eye on
negotiations as they unfold. We are using our strong links with key players both in
the EU and the UK to push hard for robust and explicit safeguards in TTIP to protect
our health services.”
Ends
Notes to Editors
1. The NHS European office will host a tweetchat on TTIP, from 12.30 to 1.30
(UK time) on Wednesday 26 November, using the hashtag #TTIPNHS. Join
us to tell us what you think.
2. The NHS European Office’s briefing “TTIP and the NHS – separating myth
from fact” can be downloaded here.
3. TTIP is a planned trade pact currently being negotiated between the EU and
the USA. It aims to liberalise trade and investment between the two blocs by
removing unnecessary barriers to market access and investment.
4. The NHS European Office monitors EU developments and influences them in
the interest of the NHS. It is part of the NHS Confederation. Further
information on TTIP and the NHS European Office's work to influence it can
be found here.
Follow the NHS European Office on Twitter@NHSConfed_EU
5.
The NHS Confederation represents all organisations that commission and
provide NHS services. It is the only membership body to bring together and
speak on behalf of the whole of the NHS. We help the NHS to guarantee high
standards of care for patients and best value for taxpayers by representing
our members and working together with our health and social care partners.
We make sense of the whole health system, influence health policy and
deliver industry-wide support functions for the NHS.
4.
For media queries, contact Georgie Agass on 020 7799 8637. For out of
hours media enquiries, please call the Duty Press Officer on 07880 500726.
Follow the NHS Confederation press office on Twitter @NHSConfed_Press.