Euro Labour critical of EU Cross-Border Health Care System proposal - 2009-04-23

Today Labour MEPs refused to support a proposal on Cross-Border Healthcare and abstained at the first reading vote in the European Parliament.

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, Labour Spokesperson for Health in the European Parliament and Member of the Health Committee.

Linda McAvan MEP, 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 Parliament's Consumer Protection Committee, said:

"In a recent debate on cross border health payments between Britain and Ireland the Tory shadow health minister Andrew Lansley said that NHS resources are always precious and attacked the payment of 180 million Pounds of NHS money to Ireland."

"With this vote today the Tories have demonstrated that they are willing to play fast and loose with precious NHS resources. The Tories' failure to back Labour's proposal for a clear prior authorisation system could see hundreds of millions of Pounds of NHS resources diverted away from local investment to fund private health treatment in Europe."

The controversy surrounding the report meant that less than half the Members of the Parliament backed the final Tory proposal. Arlene McCarthy MEP said: "Labour Euro MPs are not prepared to back a Tory proposal which claims to give freedom of choice to patients but will only benefit a wealthy minority. We will always stand up for the vast majority of patients who need and want high quality healthcare close to home." 

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

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