The EU Directive on the application of patients’ rights in cross border healthcare provides clarity about the rights of patients who seek healthcare in another Member State and supplements the rights that patients already have at EU level through the Regulation on the coordination of social security schemes (Regulation 883/04). The Directive does not establish any new entitlements or rights to treatment.
It should be emphasised that the vast majority of EU patients receive healthcare in their own country and prefer to do so. The Directive seeks to provide a clear and transparent framework for the provision of cross-border healthcare within the EU, for those occasions where patients seek health care in another Member State rather than in their home country. The Directive should, therefore, be seen as complimentary to the current situation under EU Regulation 883/04. While there may be resource implications as a result of its transposition, it is particularly difficult to quantify them at this time as they may be of the nature of displacement away from the EU Regulations rather than totally new demands. In view of this and the tight financial position regarding the funding of the health services generally, no additional provision was made in the 2013 Estimates for the Directive.
My Department continues its work on the required legislative framework to facilitate the assimilation of the Directive into domestic legislation. Details of legislative changes required will be published closer to the date for transposition of the Directive.
