News

13th January 2004

'Patient Power' plans welcomed

Under a new EU plan, patients will be free to take advantage of health services offered in other EU countries. For non-hospital services, their own health authorities will be required to reimburse them on the same basis as their home country. Member States will also be obliged to reimburse costs for in-patient stays, provided that treatment in their home country cannot be obtained within an 'acceptable' time limit.

John Bowis MEP, UK Conservative Health Spokesman, represents the European Parliament in the EU High Level Ministerial Committee on Health that is looking at patient mobility. He said:

"This is good news for patients who have been facing unacceptably long waits for treatment. It is an indictment of the British Labour Government that so many British patients stand to gain from this initiative. It is now down to the government to get the management of the system right, so that patients benefit and health service managers are able to plan their budgets and services effectively."

Malcolm Harbour MEP, Conservative Spokesman on the Internal Market in the European Parliament, said:

"This proposal will provide valuable new rights for patient healthcare. The opening of the market for healthcare is entirely in line with our proposals for a Passport for Health that will benefit all UK patients."