The Transatlantic Public Services Industrial Complex‏

The British Medical Journal reports on research work being carried out by Workers Uniting (the formal alliance between Unite and the United Steelworkers of North America) to expose the activities of US health care companies touting for NHS contracts while at the same time lobbying against President Obama’s health care reforms. http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/extract/340/feb10_2/c792

“The Department of Health has 14 private sector companies on its preferred providers list, including big US names such as UnitedHealth, Humana, McKinsey, and McKesson, all organisations with multibillion dollar annual revenues. These companies have all tendered to run NHS services—from GP surgeries to logistical services….. Two of the companies on the list are well known political donors. In 2008, the US election year, Humana made contributions totalling $597 100, 52% of which went to Republican candidates. In the same period UnitedHealth Group gave $112 098; the company also favoured Republican candidates, who received 61% of its total donations. Last year UnitedHealth was lobbying in nine US states, while Humana employed lobbyists in 12 states. “
www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/oct/01/lobbyists-millions-obama-healthcare-reform