Cross-border healthcare: implementation of the 2011 Health Care Directive

9.9.2014

Question for written answer E-006722-14
to the Commission
Rule 130
Alain Cadec (PPE)

The directive of 9 March 2011 was to have been implemented by October 2013, with the aim of facilitating the rapid treatment of patients between the Member States. It put an end to the need for prior authorisation for cross-border non-hospital care. Preliminary reports came to the conclusion that healthcare and social security systems would not be financially sustainable.

Does the Commission plan to review the impact of patient mobility in specific areas of non-hospital care such as dental care? In the light of dental tourism, particularly to Hungary, does the Commission intend to assess the impact on the overall quality of care provided?

In Article 12 of the directive, the Commission undertook to help the Member States set up European reference networks between specialised centres and healthcare providers, in particular for the treatment of rare diseases.

How many such networks have been set up so far? Does the Commission intend to develop other platforms dealing with rare diseases apart from Orphanet.com?

A number of Member States took steps prior to and at the same time as implementation of the provisions of the directive by setting up areas for access to cross-border healthcare in a number of border regions such as along the Franco-Belgian border and the Strasbourg-Ortenau Eurodistrict.

Does the Commission plan to promote the creation of other such areas? If so, how does it intend to go about this?