Cross Border Health Care

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What is Cross Border Health Care?

Cross border health care is when a patient seeks treatment in another EU country usually for one of 2 reasons.

1. The treatment is not available in their home country

2. The patient has been waiting for a long time to receive treatment.

The European Court of Justice has issued several rulings confirming that patients have a right to travel to another EU country for treatment for the above reasons. In spite of these Court rulings it remains difficult for patients to find their way through the bureaucratic maze that exists in order to exercise the right to seek treatment abroad.

In July 2008 the EU Commission adopted a directive which should clarify how patients can exercise these rights The directive's goals would ensure that:- Patients have the right to seek healthcare abroad and to be reimbursed for their medical expenses clear guidelines on how these rights can be exercised by the patient in order to overcome bureaucracy.

This directive must be adopted by the Council of Ministers as well as by the European Parliament before it can become effective.

If elected as an MEP with your Vote I pledge to do my utmost to ensure that this directive be adopted by the Council and the European Parliament in the shortest time possible so that inequalities in health care be removed once and for all .

Many of my patients can vouch that as Doctor I have made a life commitment in favour of patients to receive the best treatment with the least possible delay.

I need your vote to fight for patient’s rights

Dr Frank Portelli MD FRCS(Ed)

To read full Text of European Court Judgment

http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CELEX:62004J0372:EN:HTML

For more information on the draft directive on patients rights please visit: http://ec.europa.eu/health/ph_overview/co_operation/healthcare/cross-border_healthcare_en.htm

www.2bfrank4u.com