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

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

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

4. 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

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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.

10. 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

11. 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!

12. 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.

13. SPREADING THE WORD Print magazine
Distributed to 6,000 major centres across the UK, serving 38 million patients
Digital edition

14. WANT TO KNOW MORE? www.IMTJ.COM www.IMTJ.COM/BLOG