The NHS has failed to recover more than ￡250 million from overseas patients in three years - report (Image: Getty)
The NHS has failed to recover more than ￡250 million from overseas patients in three years, according to a new report. The research by the Policy Exchange think tank found that the health service charged ￡384 million to patients from overseas between 2021 and 2024, but ￡252 million has not been paid.
Tory former health secretary Sir Sajid Javid warned that "asking those who pay for the NHS to shoulder the cost for those who haven’t made the same contribution is fundamentally unfair". In a foreword to the report, he said: “The NHS is one of our most precious national institutions because it reflects the values at the heart of our society.
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“That includes the principle of fairness. Everyone contributes to our health service according to their means, and in return everyone is cared for according to their need. Break that model, and you weaken the social contract on which services like the NHS depend.
“This sobering report from Policy Exchange demonstrates why that principle is under threat. The rules on who can expect free treatment are clear under law.
"If you are resident in the UK, you are eligible. If you are an overseas visitor who does not meet the criteria, you are not."
He said the NHS "is not a charity", adding: "It is not an international aid organisation. It is a public service - funded out of the hard-earned money of British taxpayers, for the benefit of British taxpayers."
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The report makes a series of recommendations to tackle the issue including requiring NHS trusts to publish annual figures, league tables of the best and worst trusts, and stripping bonuses from bosses of trusts who fail to collect at least 50% of overseas fees.
It also calls for the Home Office to refuse visas to any applicants with outstanding NHS charges.
The ￡252 million shortfall is equivalent to paying the annual salaries of 3,200 GPs or building 68 new GP surgeries.
DON'T MISS
Powered by
Pensioners could get extra ￡5,740 a year if they have any of these health conditions
West Ham release extraordinary 1,382-word statement with Graham Potter under pressure
Rachel Reeves told to target wealthy pensioners to fix UK finances
PIP claimants may be able to boost their payments by up to ￡633 a month
Universal Credit boost urged as think tank calls for end to pension triple lock
Inheritance tax takings hit ￡3.7billion in five months - 3 ways to reduce your bill
DWP's top 48 health conditions to help you get ￡110 a week
Older state pensioners can cut TV Licence bill to ￡0 in 16 minutes
Rachel Reeves budget ‘fear and rumour' leads to urgent pension warning
DWP state pension warning as ex-BoE economist calls for triple lock to be axed
How to claim DWP Winter Fuel Payment by post or phone as deadline nears
Martin Lewis responds to scrap the state pension fears
DWP State Pensioners rent help available - unless savings tops key limit
HMRC state pension tax grab - how you can keep more of your money
Now family doctors could walk out on strike in latest NHS crisis
DWP's full list of 48 health conditions eligible for ￡110 a week boost
Social care at 'breaking point' with millions of Brits unpaid carers for loved ones
Martin Lewis issues warning to UK households with ￡10k or more in savings accounts
Pension mistake set to cost 2.4 million Brits an estimated ￡60,000 in retirement
Thousands of people can get free NHS prescriptions in several situations - what to know
Pensioners could get extra ￡5,740 a year if they have any of these health conditions
West Ham release extraordinary 1,382-word statement with Graham Potter under pressure
Rachel Reeves told to target wealthy pensioners to fix UK finances
PIP claimants may be able to boost their payments by up to ￡633 a month
Universal Credit boost urged as think tank calls for end to pension triple lock
Inheritance tax takings hit ￡3.7billion in five months - 3 ways to reduce your bill
DWP's top 48 health conditions to help you get ￡110 a week
Older state pensioners can cut TV Licence bill to ￡0 in 16 minutes
Rachel Reeves budget ‘fear and rumour' leads to urgent pension warning
DWP state pension warning as ex-BoE economist calls for triple lock to be axed
How to claim DWP Winter Fuel Payment by post or phone as deadline nears
Martin Lewis responds to scrap the state pension fears
DWP State Pensioners rent help available - unless savings tops key limit
HMRC state pension tax grab - how you can keep more of your money
Now family doctors could walk out on strike in latest NHS crisis
DWP's full list of 48 health conditions eligible for ￡110 a week boost
Social care at 'breaking point' with millions of Brits unpaid carers for loved ones
Martin Lewis issues warning to UK households with ￡10k or more in savings accounts
Pension mistake set to cost 2.4 million Brits an estimated ￡60,000 in retirement
Thousands of people can get free NHS prescriptions in several situations - what to know
Pensioners could get extra ￡5,740 a year if they have any of these health conditions
West Ham release extraordinary 1,382-word statement with Graham Potter under pressure
Rachel Reeves told to target wealthy pensioners to fix UK finances
PIP claimants may be able to boost their payments by up to ￡633 a month
Universal Credit boost urged as think tank calls for end to pension triple lock
Inheritance tax takings hit ￡3.7billion in five months - 3 ways to reduce your bill
DWP's top 48 health conditions to help you get ￡110 a week
The 10 worst performing trusts accounted for ￡143.4 million, which is over half of the total unrecovered.
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesman said: “Overseas visitors - and those who are not lawfully settled here – should contribute towards their treatment in recognition of the additional cost to the NHS.
“We are committed to getting maximum value for taxpayers’ money and expect all NHS trusts to recover any charges not paid in advance wherever possible.
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