UK government wants hospitals to expand overseas

The British government said Tuesday that it wants the country's state-funded hospitals to help support themselves by setting up profit-making branches in other countries. Officials said the country should capitalize on international respect for the British healthcare brand. But critics accused the government of trying to commercialize the public health service—a touchy issue in British politics. The government announced Tuesday it was setting up a body called Healthcare U.K. to help world-renowned institutions, such as the Great Ormond Street Hospital for children, establish overseas branches.