Thread by @drbenwhite

People should know about Professor Karol Sikora. He has transformed into something of an NHS advocate of late. He has supported free marketeers and is a vocal advocate for private healthcare. He has a long track record as an anti-NHS activist.

In 2004, he argued the NHS "has produced a deeply unequal system where the most affluent in society can opt out while the poorest often receive some of the worst healthcare in Europe", advocating a "consumer-led service"
theguardian.com/comment/story/…

In the same year, in The Times, he stated 'The NHS as we know it has had its day.'

irhea.ir/files/site1/he…

He was interviewed in 2006, saying
“The NHS is very much a religion, and sometimes at Doctors for Reform, it’s like we are sitting there in Canterbury Cathedral plotting to throw God out,”
...

“There is no reason that there has to be a public insurer – why can’t the Norwich Union, for example, take a bit of the business? They will have to compete and show that they are just as good.”
pharmafile.com/news/pharmafoc…

In 2007, a member of the Steering Committee of 'Doctors for Reform', he co-authored a report. DfR "believes that the time has come to look at new ways to supply and fund healthcare "
democms.them.co.uk/client_files/w…

In 2009, in opposing Obamacare, he promoted the Conservatives for Patients' Rights (CPR) group, saying the USA could end up 'like the NHS', and warning single-payer healthcare "drives competition and consumerism out the window"
theguardian.com/world/2009/may…

In the same year he was accused of misleading the public by claiming an honorary professorship at Imperial College London
theguardian.com/science/2009/m…

In 2016 he was on the editorial board for this report authored by notorious free market fanatic Kristian Niemitz, then Head of Health and Welfare at the Institute of Economic Affairs, a hardcore crusader against public, equitable healthcare.
uk2020.org.uk/wp-content/upl…

By the way, this report was impressively taken apart in some detail by @mgtmccartney margaretmccartney.com/2016/10/25/nhs…

He's a good friend and supporter of Owen Paterson MP, the founder of UK2020, saying
"I hope that Owen Paterson goes ahead, as he plans, and produces a further report on how we could create a system that is genuinely first class."
telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/10/2…

Finally, he was caught not declaring his conflict of interest with respect to private cancer care and treatments
inews.co.uk/news/health/ca…