European cross border healthcare moves a step closer

Patients will enjoy stronger rights for reimbursable medical treatment in another European Union country under proposals approved by the European parliament’s environment and public health committee.

Amendments overwhelmingly endorsed by the committee on 27 October to draft legislation on cross border healthcare would limit the scope for national authorities in the patient’s home country to refuse to pay for the treatment. They would give special rights to people with rare diseases and ensure that anyone contemplating medical care abroad has access to all the relevant information, including the costs involved.

The legislation follows a series of rulings by the European Court of Justice in recent years confirming that the public has a right to refundable treatment in another EU …