Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 2 February 2016
405. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Health if a general practitioner can refer a patient to a consultant within the European Union and the European Economic Area, for inpatient care under the cross-border directive scheme; if not, the reason; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4398/16]
View answerThe Cross Border Directive (CBD) allows Irish residents to avail of healthcare in other EU or EEA (excluding Switzerland) Member States that they would be entitled to within the public health system in Ireland, which is not contrary to Irish legislation. Public patients may access the healthcare they require in either the public or private healthcare system of the country abroad under CBD. Access to healthcare abroad is based on patients following public patient pathways - i.e. patients must demonstrate they have followed the equivalent public patient pathways that a patient would follow if accessing public healthcare in Ireland. Referral for care under the CBD may be made by a GP, a hospital consultant and certain other HSE clinicians.
