[vidarh]

The UK healthcare system is 96% or so publicly funded. Yet I choose my private GP. If they don't treat me well, I go somewhere else. So while they can't compete for me by price, they need to be efficient enough to be able to afford to provide care their patients are happy with, or they loose their patients, and with it their funding.

They also need to keep their cost under control, as their cost determines their profitability: The rate they get paid to take NHS patients is set across the board.

And if/when the NHS sees the cost of providing certain care drops across the board, they can and do push the price they are willing to pay for it down.

The UK incidentally has a healthcare system that is substantially cheaper than the US, yet ranked substantially higher by the WHO.

[linker3000]

I spent 5 weeks in hospital last year for Pulmonary Edema (fluid on the lungs) related to diabetic-induced heart problems. Two ops and 5 stents later I can't fault the UK NHS model. It's not perfect, but it does a great job without bankrupting the patient.