EP takes an important step towards a healthier Europe

3.28.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 31st Mar 2009

Today the Environment and Public Health Committee of the European Parliament made a first important step towards a free European patient area by adopting a report on cross-border health. People with rare diseases will be able to receive medical care throughout the EU. An attempt by the Greens and the GUE to block the report failed, whilst socialists abstained.

Jules Maaten (VVD, Netherlands) ALDE Health Issues Coordinator introduced the idea of establishing a European ombudsman for patient's rights. He explains why: "People are sometimes afraid to get their medical treatment abroad. Different languages can make the communication more difficult. An ombudsman will guarantee patient's rights and make sure that complaints are dealt with in time and with care."

Maaten is satisfied with today's result: "This is an important step toward greater patient's rights. EU citizens should be entitled to treatment in another EU member state if necessary, without worrying about costs, safety and quality. At the moment complex rules and legal uncertainty can be a barrier for people without good resources, this directive will ensure equal access for all patients to cross border health services."

Alan Butt Philip, Welsh Lib Dem lead European Candidate is surprised that the Greens, Socialists and Communists did not support the report: "It is incredible that none of the groups on the left supported this when finally we get European legislation that benefits the European citizen in a concrete way. These Groups put national health bureaucracies before patient's rights.

This is not about liberalisation, but about free movement of patients. The directive will not interfere in the way national health care systems are organised. I am surprised that other parties are playing political games on the back of European patients."

The directive gives patients the right to non-hospitalisation care in other Member States to the extent that they would be covered in their own Member State. They do not need prior authorisation and will be reimbursed by their own social security system. Patients may also seek hospital care in another Member State and get the costs reimbursed, but in this case the Member States can require prior authorisation.

The directive ensures free movement of and better information for patients. Furthermore, it will increase cooperation between health care systems by sharing expertise, innovation and information.

http://www.patients-rights.eu/