Medical Tourism Boosted by European Directive

July 17th, 2008 Posted in Medical Tourism

The EU Proposal for a Directive on patient’s rights in cross border healthcare provides an added stimulus to the already growing number of medical tourists who seek hospital treatment elsewhere in the European Union.

The Directive will create a formal framework and remove obstacles for UK patients wishing to travel for treatment in other EU countries. In some circumstances, patients will be able to travel to other EU countries for treatment and will be able to reclaim the cost of treatment from the NHS. Patients will have to pay their travel and accommodation costs, plus any top-up fees if charges in the foreign hospitals are higher than the NHS cost.

The Directive proposes the following developments in cross border healthcare:

A legal framework for the reimbursement of treatment where it takes place elsewhere in the EU
Common principles in terms of guaranteeing patient safety and ensuring quality and continuity of care
Stimulating greater European cooperation on healthcare including the establishment of “European Reference Networks” which would create a concentration of expertise, training and resources for specific diseases and health issues
Establishment of a European network for the assessment of new medical technology
Establishment of standards for e-health, in particular the transfer of patient information and treatment records between member states

Last year, around 100,000 “medical tourists” left the UK for treatment. Their experiences were resoundingly positive with 97 per cent of patients willing to travel abroad for treatment again, according to Treatment Abroad’s recent medical tourist survey.

Medical Tourism: Seeking Affordable Healthcare Overseas (Nuwire)

The Challenges of Medical Tourism (BBC)

Medical Tourism - The Impact (BBC)

Israel Courts Medical Tourists (BBC)