Cross Border Health Care

02 July 2008
by eub2 -- last modified 03 July 2008

BEUC is pleased by the adoption by the European Commission of the long awaited proposal for a Directive on cross border health care.

When you are abroad, be it as a worker, student or traveller, it is possible, under certain conditions, to be treated and be reimbursed by your social security system. However there are a number of other cases where you might want, or need, to have medical treatment in another Member State: this could be because the treatment is not available in your own country, because waiting times are too long, or because it is more convenient for personal reasons.

It is therefore high time for patients to have legal certainty regarding cross border health care and the fullest information in order to make rational choices. BEUC is therefore pleased by the adoption today by the Commission of the long awaited proposal for a Directive on cross border health care.

We particularly welcome the establishment of national contact points that will provide patients with information on essential aspects of cross border health care, including procedures, reimbursements, and means of redress in case of harm.

However, further discussions are needed on the system for prior authorization for hospital care: it must not lead to confusion and increased inequalities between the Member States.

According to Monique Goyens, BEUC Director General, "Patients prefer to be treated close to their home and family and they must be entitled to receive the best available care in their own country. However when this is not possible or when they choose to seek health care in another Member State, they must have the right to do so, be aware of their rights and have the means to enforce them."

The European Consumers' Organisation (BEUC) was created in 1962 by the consumer organisations of Belgium, Luxembourg, France, the Netherlands, Italy and Germany. After working together for a number of years, these organisations decided to create a European association, based in Brussels, right at the heart of Community policy. BEUC was a pioneer, one of the first lobbying organisations to set up base in the European capital in a bid to influence the decision-making process.

BEUC - The European Consumers' Organisation