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UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham talks with social care stakeholders, including residents, caregivers, and volunteers, at a care home in London on July 29 (local time). / AP, Yonhap

UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham stated on July 29 (local time) that he will overhaul the nation's social care system and work with other political parties to dismantle a structure that imposes costs as exorbitant and unfair as the U.S. healthcare system.

Reuters reported that Prime Minister Burnham made the remarks during a conversation with residents and stakeholders at a care home in North London, saying, "Failure by Parliament to address this issue head-on is a dereliction of public duty."

When asked whether the social care system could be reformed without tax increases, he replied, "There is more that can be done within existing resources, but some plans will require tough decisions."

He went on to say, "I will explain that candidly to the public," while promising to stick to his existing pledge that there would be no tax increases targeting individuals of certain specific classes.

The National Health Service (NHS), the public healthcare system responsible for medical services in the UK, provides treatments, surgeries, hospitalizations, emergency room visits, and primary care consultations free of charge.

However, social care services such as nursing facilities do not fall under the state-run NHS, and their operators range widely from large chains owned by international private equity funds to small family businesses, charities, and local governments, making the costs of using them vary drastically.

In particular, users requiring long-term care may face enormous financial burdens.

Prime Minister Burnham proposed that building a National Care Service (NCS) in England that integrates social care services with the NHS would reduce the burden for everyone.

However, because health and social care policies in the UK are devolved to the respective governments of England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland rather than the central government, the policies pursued by Prime Minister Burnham will apply only to England.

He also stated he would rectify the practices of the profit-driven social care industry, calling such practices "fundamentally unacceptable."

The out-of-pocket costs for care home residents vary depending on the level of medical care or region, but are known to be around 1,400 pounds per week.

Sarah Woolnough, chief executive officer (CEO) of the King's Fund, a UK health policy think tank, explained, "It is currently estimated that one in seven older people pays more than 100,000 pounds in lifetime care costs."

She emphasized, "Now is the time to grasp the opportunity to show how social care can improve people's lives and relieve the pressure this broken system places on the NHS."

                                                                                                            Kim Hyun-min