Directive on Patients' Rights in Cross-border Healthcare comes into force

On 25 October the Directive on Patients’ Rights in Cross-border healthcare came into force.

For the first time, the right of patients in Europe to seek healthcare in another Member State and be reimbursed for it is clearly established. The right to healthcare in other Member States already existed prior to the adoption of this Directive but it applied to prior authorisation or unforeseen medical treatment; there was no guarantee that the cost of hospital care would be met.

Many of the Directive provisions are optional or leave room for interpretation by Member States. Much will depend on the way the Directive is implemented. 

Speaking on the occasion, Health Commissioner Tonio Borg underlined the importance of the Directive, which outlines the citizens' right to go to another EU country for treatment and get reimbursed for it. According to the Commissioner, this Directive empowers patients s it allows for greater choice of healthcare, more information, and easier recognition of prescriptions across-borders. The Directive is will also help improve cooperation between Member States on interoperable eHealth tools, the use of health technology assessment, and the pooling of rare expertise.

The Commission will carefully monitor transposition of the Directive into national law across the 28 Member States and take appropriate action where necessary.

The Commission has prepared a detailed Questions & Answers briefing for consumers, which provides detailed information on the rights of patients in cross-border care, such as

• When would I need prior authorisation from my national authority?
• Can this authorisation be refused?
• What if I am refused authorisation?
• How much will I be reimbursed after receiving a treatment abroad?
• Can I seek healthcare abroad if the treatment is not available in my country?
• Do I need to pay for cross-border treatment upfront?
• What should I do if something goes wrong whilst receiving treatment abroad?
• How can I be sure that the treatment I received abroad will be followed up properly on my return home?

For more information: MEMO/13/918

 For the Questions & Answers: http://ec.europa.eu/health/cross_border_care/policy/index_en.htm