On 10 July, the China Chamber of Commerce in the UK (CCCUK) held a lecture for Chinese enterprises in the UK on “UK Public & Private Healthcare Systems and Health Services”. The event was attended by over 70 delegates from related parties and member enterprises’ HR Department. The event invited renowned experts from healthcare industry to give detailed information and answers on issues of concern to member enterprises. including the UK healthcare system, private insurance, the workplace wellness in the UK and employee benefits consultancy.

At the Lecture

In his welcome speech, WU Lin, Secretary General of the CCCUK, said that the Chamber is committed to diversifying its service for Chinese enterprises in the UK. This lecture has invited experts from the healthcare and insurance industries to disseminate information about the UK public & private healthcare systems and provide comprehensive knowledge on healthcare in the UK; and the CCCUK will continue to host similar events in the future, so as to provide effective and professional services to Chinese enterprises and employees in the UK for them to further understand the various aspects of life services in the country.

ZHANG Keping, General Manager of Shanghai Asian Insurance(UK) Limited, Introducing the UK Healthcare System

At the lecture, Mr. ZHANG Keping, General Manager of Shanghai Asian Insurance(UK) Limited, Introducing the UK Healthcare System, gave a detailed explanation of the UK healthcare system. One is the National Health Service (NHS), which has the advantage of free, comprehensive services and efficient emergency care, but also faces many challenges. The other is the Private Medical Insurance (PMI) system. It has many options, good quality, speed and time saving. He suggested that both healthcare systems have their advantages and disadvantages and they complement each other, and that companies and employees should combine the two to get the best experience of healthcare coverage services.

Brad Barrett, Intermediary Development Manager at AXA PPP Healthcare, a UK-based Private Medical Insurance Company, Giving a Guide to Private Medical Insurance (PMI)

Mr. Brad Barrett, Intermediary Development Manager at AXA PPP Healthcare, gave a Guide to Private Medical Insurance (PMI). He presented a number of statistics on the health of the modern population, showing the challenges faced by modern people; for example, the lifetime chance of developing cancer has risen to 50%, and psychological problems such as depression and anxiety have increased by 24% since 2009. He emphasised that health is an important issue for everyone today and gave a detailed analysis of the current situation of health welfare in the UK, pointing out the advantages for private healthcare services such as convenience, professional doctors and good access.

Gary Impett, Head of Corporate Sales at Vitality London 10,000, Speaking on Workplace Wellness in the UK

Mr. Gary Impett, Head of Corporate Sales at Vitality London 10,000, presented an UK Workplace Wellness Survey. The report showed that a decline in employee wellness is strongly linked to poor workplace outcomes, which can lead to an overall annual loss of productivity and ultimately £81 billion in economic losses. He then went on to suggest effective health and wellness programmes for companies to implement, including regular medical check-ups and exercise incentives, these are effective approaches to enable employees to do their jobs while maintaining a healthy physical and mental state, thereby improving overall productivity.

Simon Bevan, Head of China-UK Services at Grant Thornton, Giving a Presentation on Employee Benefits Consultancy Services

Mr. Simon Bevan, Head of China-UK Services at Toastmasters, gave a presentation on employee benefits consultancy services. He said that employee beneficial check-ups and consultancy services can effectively help companies and employees: they could help companies understand their employees’ expectations of benefits and identify potential errors and inefficiencies so as to remedy them, and help employees with targeted financial education, personal investment reviews and employee benefits-related information tracking.

The delegates of this lecture gained an in-depth understanding of the UK public & private healthcare system and health services, and the lecture provided Chinese enterprises and employees with practical knowledge and channels to apply for personal insurance and benefits. After the lecture, delegates had a lively discussion with the experts on related issues.