Euro Labour critical of EU Cross-Border Health Care System proposal - 2009-03-31

Today Labour MEPs criticized the Commission's proposal on Cross-Border Healthcare and abstained at the final vote in committee.

Labour MEPs were concerned that the rules as drafted are not clear enough. Patients travelling to another EU country for treatment must know whether they will be reimbursed and have all the necessary information on the type and quality of healthcare in the host country. "That is why we backed a clear system of 'prior authorisation' for all hospital and specialised care, meaning that patients have to be referred through the NHS before being treated abroad" commented Linda McAvan MEP.

Linda McAvan MEP, Member of the Health and Environment Committee said: "The numbers currently making use of this opportunity in the UK are very small (552 in 2007). It is not expected that these numbers will increase substantially after this directive is adopted.  However, for those people who do want cross-border treatment abroad, we need clear rules both for the patient and for the NHS."

Arlene McCarthy MEP, Chair of the Consumer Affairs Committee commented: "Ensuring patient safety is top of our list of priorities when it comes to healthcare. Health professionals and patients, do cross European borders. We need to ensure there is proper regulation in place to guarantee a high standard of patient care and safety."

Arlene McCarthy MEP continued: "Under the last Tory Government waiting lists were the longest ever and the Tories wanted the wealthy few to get vouchers to take NHS money for their private treatment. Now waiting lists are the lowest ever but the Tories are still trying to privatise the NHS by the back door with a rebranded European health voucher."

For more information please call the European Parliamentary Labour Party press officer, Silke Thomson on +32 479 790 053.

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