So, interestingly Centene (A private US #healthcare provider) is pulling out of the UK, having failed to capitalise on owning both a chain of GPs & hospitals - both of which are now up for sale.
Apparently they were unable to 'incentivise' GPs to refer patients to Centene hospitals & found there was insufficient margin for profit in the business they were able to direct to their own network.
It seems the UK 'market' for healthcare may be a harder nut to crack that US firms realise.
@ChrisMayLA6 This could be a simple situation that the 'opportunity cost' means that it is still more profitable to fleece US citizens first - and that additional surplus can be deployed further down the road once the parlous state of the UKs decisions really kicks in.
Besides, inflation is going nowhere and Sterling is likely to tank relative to the Dollar - how would any profit earned in the UK improve revenues when returned to the parent division?
I think your second point is fair... but the situation seems to be they cannot make their business model work as well in the UK... so on one level the opportunity cost is what is drawing them back to the USA, but I think the issue of timing you mention is the key point - moved in too early?
@ChrisMayLA6 This story has been decades in the making, theres many more facets to go on this one, though the levels of deliberate mishandling of the health service twinned with chronic under funding is hollowing out.
Just remember, that the Government is likely to be wiped out in next years elections, which means that people who had placed bets on a continuing deregulatory, laissez-faire and libertarian direction are hedging their bets.
I doubt the Starmer Government will undo the damage alas
Emeritus Prof Christopher May
Indieterminacy