The National Health Service (NHS) should be financed by insurance and not taxation, according to a cross-party group.

The Health Policy Consensus Group has concluded that the NHS should follow the example set by systems based on social insurance in Germany and France.

Group chairman David Green said: "Current policies are self-contradictory. The Government increasingly advocates consumer choice and yet the NHS remains a highly centralised public-sector monopoly."

In a statement the group said that reform of the method of finance was vital.

The group suggested that health insurance should now be compulsory.

Green added: "The new system would help to build a real sense of social solidarity, based on the conscious knowledge that we were contributing to a system that serves as a system of insurance for rich and poor alike."

The 2025 Insurance Times Awards took place on the evening of Wednesday 3rd December in the iconic Great Room of London’s Grosvenor House.

Hosted by comedian and actor Tom Allen, 34 Gold, 23 Silver and 22 Bronze awards were handed out across an amazing 34 categories recognising brilliance and innovation right across the breadth of UK general insurance.
Many congratulations to all the worthy winners and as always, huge thanks to our sponsors for their support and our judges for their expertise.