Lack of health insurance for lorry drivers

24.10.2017

Question for written answer E-006612-17
to the Commission
Rule 130
Ole Christensen (S&D)

A case was recently uncovered in the Danish media where a Romanian driver employed by the Romanian subsidiary of a Danish company was not covered by health insurance either in Romania or Denmark.[1] The driver had been transporting cargoes between the Nordic countries for ten months without returning home to Romania, and for the whole time he slept in the cab. At the end of this time he had kidney problems and went to a Danish hospital. As the Romanian subsidiary had not insured the driver with the Romanian health scheme, he was only able to receive treatment in Denmark at his own expense, which he could not afford.

Is it compatible with EC law for a Danish firm with a Romanian subsidiary not to pay into the Romanian health insurance scheme and thus employ drivers who are not insured in the event of sickness?

• [1] https://www.avisen.dk/chauffoeren-traian-stoppede-hos-dansk-vognmand-jeg_459447.aspx