Cross border health care

What is cross border health care?

Cross border health care is when a patient seeks treatment in another EU country usually for one of two reasons.

1. The patient has been waiting for a long time to receive treatment;
2. The treatment is not available in their home country.

The European Court of Justice has issued several rulings confirming that patients have a right to travel to another EU country for medical treatment.

However there is much bureaucracy for patients seeking treatment abroad.

On April 23, the European Parliament the plenary passed the first reading of the legislation which is set simplify the process for patients seeking treatment abroad.

As a result,

1. The directive will empower patients to seek healthcare abroad and to be reimbursed for their medical expenses;
2. It will set clear guidelines on how these rights can be exercised by the patient in order to overcome bureaucracy.

There were 297 votes in favour but there were 120 votes against and 152 abstentions mainly from Socialist MEPs as well as far left.

The law will now be discussed again in the next legislature in September 2009

If elected as an MEP with your vote, I pledge to do my utmost to ensure that this directive be adopted by the Council and the European Parliament in the shortest time possible so that inequalities in health care be removed once and for all.

If you are on the waiting list you will benefit because you will have the right to seek treatment outside the Government hospitals and be refunded the cost of the treatment.

As a doctor I have made a life commitment in favour of patients to receive the best treatment with the least possible delay.

I need your vote to fight for your rights as a patient.