The head of AXA UK has highlighted healthcare as one of the biggest challenges facing the next government and believes the private sector could come to its aid.
Nicolas Moreau, CEO at the insurance giant, warned the cost of providing free healthcare for all is set to escalate with a risk that it will eventually spiral out of control.
Speaking at the Conservative Manifesto Conference, he noted the important place the NHS holds in British society but feared that its budget could spiral out of control.
With new drugs and treatments, and an aging population, Moreau queried if the continued inflation in NHS spending as a percentage of GDP would be sustainable.
"Preserving and protecting the NHS should be at the forefront of Government policy but this comes at a cost," he said.
"A future Government will need to choose between a defined level of healthcare cover that should be provided by the NHS and what needs to be paid for by patients through ‘top ups' or something similar. Historic nervousness with private sector partnerships needs to be cast aside.
"The private sector has many solutions that will help," he added.
Moreau also spoke of the need to encourage personal responsibility while correcting the fiscal deficit, something that he believes will be difficult to achieve.
