Maltese patients waiting for an operation will be able to seek treatment anywhere in the EU and get a partial or full refund of the expenses from 2013.

Following more than two and a half years of discussions, the European Parliament yesterday approved a directive ushering in cross-border health-care across the EU.

Patients will still have to fork out travel and accommodation costs, however, under the new directive, which will come into force at the end of 2013, they will be eligible for a refund on the medical costs worked on what the same operation would cost in Malta. If the cost of the operation abroad matches the tariffs established by the authorities locally, the patient would get a full reimbursement.

The directive also sets out a number of procedures that will have to be followed before a patient can proceed to be treated overseas.

Member states will have to establish a national contact point from where patients could seek advice on whether they were entitled to a reimbursement for a particular treatment overseas.

Patients requiring overnight stays in hospitals will require the consent of the health authorities in their country of origin before proceeding with their plans and become eligible for reimbursement. The health authorities would only be able to turn down a request if the treatment, or the health-care provider in question, is deemed to present a risk to the patient or if appropriate healthcare can be provided at home in good time.

In both cases, the authorities will have to explain their refusal and patients will be able to seek a review of the decision.

European Health and Consumer Affairs Commissioner John Dalli called the approval of the directive a breakthrough and an important step forward for all patients in Europe.

“The directive will benefit patients across Europe by clarifying their rights to access safe and good quality treatment across EU borders and be reimbursed for it,” he said.

“It will help patients who need specialised treatment, like those seeking a diagnosis or treatment for a rare disease. It will bring about closer and improved health cooperation, including the recognition of prescriptions, between member states.”

Malta had already approved the text of the new directive when discussed by the Council of Ministers.

Member states now have 30 months to integrate the new measures into national law.