New EU health directive will help shorten waiting lists

Posted by Bronwen Maher on January 19, 2011 at 11:44 AM

Patients with rare diseases also to benefit

Today’s vote in Strasbourg on the new Cross-Border Healthcare Directive will greatly enhance patient mobility in Europe shortening Irish waiting lists, with people with rare cancers and conditions also set to benefit from treatment abroad as a result.

Speaking in the Parliament, Labour MEP Nessa Childers said: "This Directive will mean that unless the HSE can prove that they can provide the treatment within a time-limit that is medically justifiable, people on a waiting list have the right to travel abroad for treatment, and be reimbursed. That part is crucial, they must medically justify any refusal to travel.

"This is huge boost to Irish patients delivered today by the European Parliament today, who have suffered for over a decade under Mary Harney's failing two-tier health system. Some people ask what the EU ever does for us, well this is another concrete example of the EU delivering better health care solutions for people across Europe.

"Though patients do prefer to be treated near to their home and this Directive does not encourage so-called 'health tourism'. But sometimes the specialist expertise they need, particularly in the case of those with rare cancers is provided in another Member State and not in their own country of residence. The Directive will allow such patients to have access to the best clinical trials and specialised treatments available anywhere in the EU.

“The Directive also manages to strike the balance between the right of EU patients to access the best treatment while at the same time ensuring that national social security and health systems are protected from a financial point of view.

"This Directive codifies a series of European Court of Justice judgments in relation to the question of patient mobility in the EU. It clarifies and assures certainty about the requirement for prior authorisation of certain treatments, the reimbursement of costs and fosters and encourages greater co-operation in terms of research and treatment services.

She continued, "Clear and precise information will be available from designated 'national contact points' where your rights as a patient will be clearly explained. Practical questions to do with the need to have 'prior authorisation' for certain procedures and treatments and the payment of costs will be addressed here also."

"It is important to point out that the Directive is not a rich person’s charter. Clear protections are built in to make equality of access to high quality healthcare a reality for all EU citizens irrespective of means or where they live. Clarity for patients about the authority that is overseeing quality and safety in cross-border cases and who is responsible for meeting the cost is fundamental to the Directive too."

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