Members of the European Parliament have paved the way for new European rules allowing people to receive medical treatment in other EU Member States and have the treatment paid for, or reclaim the cost, if their home country is unable to provide essential medical care within a reasonable timeframe.

UK Liberal Democrat MEP Liz Lynne, 1st Vice President of the European Parliament’s Employment and Social Affairs Committee, which followed this report, commented:

“The new rules provide a coherent and clear legislative framework for UK patients seeking treatment in another EU Member State and are a real milestone for cross-border healthcare in Europe.

“I think we have found the right balance between protecting national health systems and strengthening patients’ rights.

“NHS doctors will still have to give prior authorisation for treatments abroad that can be reimbursed. But there will be clearer rules and guidelines for doctors and decisions must be taken on a case-by-case basis.

“Crucially, patients will receive important information of the quality and standard of care as well as the kind of treatment they are likely to receive in another EU Member State.”

Currently, UK citizens who fall ill abroad can already access emergency care across the EU with their European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). The new scheme is designed to help in cases where the nearest hospital or specialist clinic is in a neighbouring country or where a particular treatment can be provided faster or more expertly abroad.

Ms Lynne added:

“The new rules are not designed to encourage health tourism. Patients are only entitled to reimbursement for treatment that their home health authority would normally provide. Travel or hotel costs cannot normally be claimed back.

“Patients from other Member States travelling to the UK specifically for healthcare will have to pay the full NHS cost of treatment.”

The new cross-border health care legislation will now have to be approved by national ministers in the European Council before being transposed into national legislation. The new rules could be in place as early as 2013.