Plaid Cymru has urged the UK Government to ensure that a new free trade deal between the EU and US explicitly exempts the NHS from US private buy-outs.
The deal – known as TTIP – is aimed at opening up the EU market to the US and vice-versa. Some Member States have ensured exemptions, from initial negotiations, for example France has protected its film industry from the free trade deal.
Following Meetings with EU officials in Brussels this week, Plaid Cymru Shadow Cabinet Minister for Health Elin Jones said:
“Negotiations relating to this US trade deal must ensure the NHS is protected from potential private interference. The NHS is a treasure and is rooted in social considerations. As such, it should not be subject to the principles of a free market. There is no place for profiteering in our health service
“The French have ensured protection for an important aspect of their public life and the UK government must do the same for the NHS. If Westminster refuses to do so, it would be reasonable to suspect that this is part of their wider privatisation agenda that we see
in England. We should be very concerned that the financial implications of this would have huge consequences for Wales and could threaten the way health services are delivered.
Plaid Cymru’s Jill Evans MEP added:
“EU governments, including the UK, of course, gave the European Commission the power to negotiate this trade deal with the USA on our behalf. But even the European Parliament hasn’t seen the negotiating mandate. Discussions are all taking place behind closed doors. We know that the TTIP as it stands, contains the Investor State Dispute Resolution or ISDS, a provision that allows private companies to sue governments if their profits are affected by actual or even proposed legislation. Because of widespread objection, the Commission has held a consultation on this and I very much hope the Welsh Government has responded on our behalf.
“We must ensure that the NHS is exempt from the TTIP in the interests of all the people of Wales and the Welsh Government is seriously failing in its duty if it has not called for this.”
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