PATIENTS IN the EU will be able to receive treatment in other member states without needing approval from their own health authority under new proposals announced by the European Commission.
While patients would have to pay for treatment upfront, they would be assured of repayment up to the level of cost of the treatment under their national health system.
The proposals will only cover treatment available in a patient's home country. For example, an Irish woman would not be able to get an abortion abroad and have it paid for by the Health Service Executive (HSE).
The new measures are likely to have a significant impact on the health system in Ireland, especially in Border areas and in areas of the health service where there are long waiting lists.
However, there are significant limitations in the area of hospital care. For example, if there is a surge in patients seeking cross-border treatment for hospital-based care, health authorities can oblige patients to obtain prior approval before seeking treatment abroad.
European Commission officials yesterday said this provision had been inserted into the proposals following concerns from member states such as Ireland that a major patient outflow could undermine domestic health systems.
Yesterday's proposal will be examined by the European Parliament and individual states. However, it could take at least a year before it becomes law.
The plan follows years of legal cases in which European Court judges have ruled that freedom to cross EU borders for treatment should be a right for all.
European health commissioner Androulla Vassiliou said the proposals would make the rights of patients much clearer an simplify the practical applications of these rights.
To encourage people to take up the new rights, the commission emphasised yesterday that healthcare quality and standards abroad would be guaranteed in the same way as for domestic patients.
And, in the event of problems, patients would be guaranteed redress and compensation, helped by national contact points for cross-border healthcare.
Philip Todd, a spokesman for the European Commission, said some member states had expressed fears about the financial implications of the new measures.
However, he said at present the cost of patients going to other member states for treatment accounted for just 1 per cent of health spending across the EU.
Mr Todd said it was unlikely there would be a big surge in patients travelling abroad, given that patients in general prefer to stay at home for treatment.
The Government's response to the commission's consultation paper on the issue of cross-border healthcare in early 2007 shows that officials in Ireland were concerned about aspects of the proposals. While officials said they supported the concept, they expressed alarm at some possible financial implications.
"Ireland would be concerned, however, at the possible financial impact of the implementation of any arrangements which might encourage citizens to seek services abroad without prior approval because of our centrally funded system," the Government's response paper says.
