Lessons from America? Commercialization and growth of private medicine in Britain

This article examines the transition of the private medical sector in Britain from a mere appendage to the National Health Service to a significant business sector involving multinational enterprise. The author argues that private medicine continues to be in a state of flux because its degree of independence is limited by its links to the dominant public sector, particularly with regard to staffing, and is still vulnerable to attacks from the opposition parties. Private medicine, despite rapid growth in the late 1970s, is beset by mounting costs and intense competition.