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People should know about Professor Karol Sikora. He has transformed into something of an NHS advocate of late. He has supported free marketeers and is a vocal advocate for private healthcare. He has a long track record as an anti-NHS activist.
In 2004, he argued the NHS "has produced a deeply unequal system where the most affluent in society can opt out while the poorest often receive some of the worst healthcare in Europe", advocating a "consumer-led service"
https://www.theguardian.com/comment/story/0,,1158110,00.html
https://www.theguardian.com/comment/story/0,,1158110,00.html
In the same year, in The Times, he stated 'The NHS as we know it has had its day.'
http://irhea.ir/files/site1/health_economics___an_introduction_for_health_professionals.pdf
http://irhea.ir/files/site1/health_economics___an_introduction_for_health_professionals.pdf
He was interviewed in 2006, saying
“The NHS is very much a religion, and sometimes at Doctors for Reform, it’s like we are sitting there in Canterbury Cathedral plotting to throw God out,”
...
“The NHS is very much a religion, and sometimes at Doctors for Reform, it’s like we are sitting there in Canterbury Cathedral plotting to throw God out,”
...
“There is no reason that there has to be a public insurer – why can’t the Norwich Union, for example, take a bit of the business? They will have to compete and show that they are just as good.”
http://www.pharmafile.com/news/pharmafocus-interview-karol-sikora-doctors-reform
http://www.pharmafile.com/news/pharmafocus-interview-karol-sikora-doctors-reform
In 2007, a member of the Steering Committee of 'Doctors for Reform', he co-authored a report. DfR "believes that the time has come to look at new ways to supply and fund healthcare "
http://democms.them.co.uk/client_files/www.reform.co.uk/files/free_at_the_point_of_delivery.pdf
http://democms.them.co.uk/client_files/www.reform.co.uk/files/free_at_the_point_of_delivery.pdf
In 2009, in opposing Obamacare, he promoted the Conservatives for Patients' Rights (CPR) group, saying the USA could end up 'like the NHS', and warning single-payer healthcare "drives competition and consumerism out the window" https://www.theguardian.com/world/2009/may/13/advertising-campaign-nhs-us-healthcare-reforms
In the same year he was accused of misleading the public by claiming an honorary professorship at Imperial College London https://www.theguardian.com/science/2009/may/22/karol-sikora-honorary-professor-imperial-college
In 2016 he was on the editorial board for this report authored by notorious free market fanatic Kristian Niemitz, then Head of Health and Welfare at the Institute of Economic Affairs, a hardcore crusader against public, equitable healthcare.
http://www.uk2020.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/UK2020-Final-eBook-RGB.pdf
http://www.uk2020.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/UK2020-Final-eBook-RGB.pdf
By the way, this report was impressively taken apart in some detail by @mgtmccartney http://margaretmccartney.com/2016/10/25/nhs-is-failing-and-must-obviously-be-privatised/
He's a good friend and supporter of Owen Paterson MP, the founder of UK2020, saying
"I hope that Owen Paterson goes ahead, as he plans, and produces a further report on how we could create a system that is genuinely first class." https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/10/25/lets-be-honest-the-nhs-is-costing-thousands-of-lives/
"I hope that Owen Paterson goes ahead, as he plans, and produces a further report on how we could create a system that is genuinely first class." https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/10/25/lets-be-honest-the-nhs-is-costing-thousands-of-lives/
Finally, he was caught not declaring his conflict of interest with respect to private cancer care and treatments https://inews.co.uk/news/health/cancer-specialist-karol-sikora-nhs-radical-shake-up-533407
