THE EU DIRECTIVE ON PATIENTS’ RIGHTS IN CROSS-BORDER HEALTHCARE MARIA D. GEORGA Treatment Abroad

DESCRIBED AS…. “…THE MOST SIGNIFICANT AND WIDE-RANGING EUROPEAN HEALTH LEGISLATION IN A GENERATION.”

HOW IT STARTED Yvonne Watts and others Won cases in European Court of Justice

WHAT IS IT ALL ABOUT? Codifies existing case law Provides legal framework confirming patients’ rights & entitlements Requires state to provide access to information via a national contact point

PATIENT RIGHTS Freedom of movement for healthcare Right to reimbursement for treatment in another EU state. Level of reimbursement up to the cost of treatment at home.

HOW IT WORKS Patient must have a right to that treatment in their home country. Patient funds treatment, and claims back. Patient must pay for travel and accommodation Home state may require “prior approval”. Member states can only require prior approval in exceptional cases.

HOW IT WORKS... IN THEORY Source: DG Sanco Each member state establishes a National Contact Point. The NCP is the first point of contact for a patient seeking information. Source: DG Sanco

BUT... CONFUSION REIGNS! How much will I be reimbursed? Do I have to pay up front? Where do I go for information? What happens if it goes wrong? Am I entitled to treatment? In reality, confusion reigns. People don't know their rights and don't know where to go for information

ISSUES FAIRNESS INFORMATION THIRD PARTY FACILITATORS only those that can afford to pay up front can exploit their rights. INFORMATION patients are on their own. THIRD PARTY FACILITATORS don’t know what they're doing.

BARRIERS The fear factor Patient awareness Opposition Opposition – Directive remains unpopular in many Member states. Many States have been very slow to set up the framework and process Patient awareness – Few people actually know they have these rights, and governments are not keen to promote it. The fear factor – Patients are fearful of going to another country for treatment. How will they know that it will be safe? What will happen if something goes wrong. Opposition

THE STORY SO FAR... SLOW ADOPTION BY STATES POOR AWARENESS CONFUSION LOW TAKE UP! Its been slow progress. Directive was passed in October 2013. States were given 2 years to comply. Many are still behind schedule. BUT... Things will change! Be patient!

SPREADING THE WORD “YOUR RIGHTS TO TREATMENT IN EUROPE” Published by Treatment Abroad Online, in print and as pdf. Distributed to the NHS. Made available to patients.

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