One of the legal partners of MVCG, the consultancy firm, recently settled the largest documented contract within the health sector. Mehdi Erfan, the Iranian-British lawyer, moderated and outlined the particular arrangement.
The negotiation stands between NHS England and private hospitals and is solely in response to COVID-19. Their collective purpose is to take the immediate necessary action. It is to ensure sufficient hospital provision during the current pandemic crisis. The decision is crucial for two reasons. Firstly, it would ensure that the virus-positive patients receive the support they require. Secondly, the contract secures the private healthcare sector for the future.
The MVGC is a body of professional lawyers and businessmen. The organization is active in the UK, Jordan, Cyprus, Iran, and the UAE, and provides legal services. Mehdi Erfan, had earlier work experience at the Department of Health, thus had the understanding to see through the negotiation.
While the process involved various challenges, it was necessary to see through the end of it. The following article discusses the different aspects of the contract. Moreover, it talks about how the agreement would affect the current circumstances.
What Are the Specifications of the Agreement?
The contract involves over 25 private hospitals, including those that operate at the national level. The duration of the agreement initially stretches for 14 weeks. Later, it would be functioning on a rolling basis. The NHS can terminate the contract with one-month advance notice.
Due to COVID-19 pandemic, various sectors are suffering from financial losses. The impacts lead to the extent of terminating businesses. The health sector does not belong to that category. Instead, medical professionals now must function to the utmost efficiency. However, even the private healthcare sector is facing specific consequences.
The NHS and private hospitals agreement at the least, financially relieves the latter. Spire Healthcare also pointed out the same while speaking to Financial Times. They believe the deal would give the private sector financial security during the crisis.
The cost-recovery estimate of the agreement is about one billion pounds. It would involve all the available services at private hospitals in England. That includes the operating costs, the various available assets, overheads, and more. Moreover, it covers a no-interest deduction for all the services. Transparency, in terms of financial matters, has been guaranteed by both sides.
How the Contract Caters to the Patients and Healthcare
With the growing uncertainty, various personalities and organizations are coming forward to aid hospitals. Ryan Giggs and Gary Nevills offered their hospitals, for free, to the NHS Staff. Corporations continue to donate equipment, hand sanitizers, and food. Similarly, the NHS booked 8,000 private beds for patients, ultimately aiding the private sector.
As a response to the virus outbreak, about 20,000 doctors began to work for NHS-England. The step was necessary to provide the required additional resources. It was significant, especially under the urgency to attend corona-positive patients immediately. However, because of the same, all the operations considered to be non-urgent were dropped.
Thus, as mentioned earlier, the private healthcare sector would benefit from the contract. However, the advantages are not just for them. Due to the increasing number of positive cases, hospitals have witnessed an acute shortage of equipment. That includes the professionals, practitioners, ventilators, anesthetics, and more. With this contract, hospitals can attempt to fight scarcity.
According to the numbers, private hospitals can provide over 12,000 ventilators to the NHS Staff. Moreover, with the agreement, 700 doctors, 10,000 nurses, and 8,000 more of the clinical staff would be available. Therefore, the contract is a crucial step towards enduring the current crisis. Moreover, it attempts to secure the lives of many at risk.
Summing Up
The COVID-19 pandemic crisis has led to severe impacts on a global scale. Some fields, including the hospitality sector, are struggling because of the lack of customers. However, the healthcare sector is struggling because of the increasing number of people that require support.
MVCG’s partner, Mehdi Erfan, has assisted the healthcare sector of England in taking a significant step. Through this contract between NHS-England and the private hospitals, the leaders are making a crucial move. With the increasing uncertainty, this decision can only add to the fight against the pandemic crisis.
