Directive on the application of
patients’ rights in cross-border
healthcare
Recent developments
Jooske Vos
European Partnership for Supervisory Organisations in health services and
social care
a co-operation between supervisory bodies in EUROPE
Directive on patients 'rights in cross-border
healthcare
Recent developments
Presentation by :
Jooske Vos Head of the EPSO Secretariat and director of
EURinSPECT
Main ‘Aims’ of Directive 2011/24/EU
The main aims of the Directive:
•
Clarify the rights of patients seeking healthcare in
another EU country, while being reimbursed by their
national system.
•
Help patients exercise their rights of access to cross
border care
•
Assure safety and quality cross-border
•
Make national health systems co-operate to achieve
economics of scale
‘Main points’ of Directive 2011/24/EU
as published April 4th 2011
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Patients allowed to receive care in other MS than State
of affiliation;
Reimbursement may be limited by MS;
Outgoing flow maybe ‘managed’ (by prior authorisation
for certain types of healthcare and by ‘gate keeping’
principle (GP);
Inflow maybe limited justified by ‘overriding reasons’ ;
Information on safety and quality standards obliged ;
Co-operation between MS necessary;
Prescriptions between MS made possible .
‘Short History’ of Directive 2011/24/EU
Towards a European policy of cross-border patients’ rights and
cross-border healthcare:
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1998 - EU Court of Justice starts cases Kohl/ Decker;
1998 -2011 Subsequent Court decisions;
2 July 2008 First draft directive by Commission to MS;
23 April 2009 European Parliament- first opinion;
June 2010 Draft Directive (Agreement in Luxembourg;
Final text adopted by EU in January 2011;
Published 4 April 2011 in official Journal ;
The Future of the Directive 2011/24/EU
before 25 October 2013 (a lot of work to do)
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Member States have to adopt the necessary laws and
regulations and administrative provisions
Including for MST ( Member State of Treatment ) :
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Provisions to ensure access to good quality crossborder health care (art 4) standards and guidelines /
information.
Including for MSA ( Member States of Affiliation ):
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Prior authorisation ( in limited cases);
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Reimbursement procedures .
The Future of the Directive 2011/24/EU
Including :
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National contact point(s) per MS (art 6 ) ( information)
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Promotion of Co-operation in healthcare between MST
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Standards and guidelines on quality and safety laid down by
the MST(art 4,1b );
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Relevant Information including provisions on supervision
and assessment of healthcare providers (art 4,2a);
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Relevant information to help individual patients make an
informed choice (art 4, 2b);
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Transparent procedures in case of harm (art 4, 2c);
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Non discrimination to foreign patients (art 4, 3).
What is interesting for supervisory bodies ?
Main point
The directive calls for:
Relevant information on the standards and guidelines on quality
and safety laid down by the MS of treatment, including
provisions on supervision and assessment of healthcare
providers;
What is interesting for supervisory bodies ?
The Directive implies the need for:
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Efficient communication channels - also between
supervisory bodies;
•
Network building on quality and safety ;
•
Relevant information on standards and guidelines on quality
and safety laid down by the MS of treatment;
•
Provisions on supervision and assessment of healthcare
providers;
All European countries have to enhance their
cooperation. How does EPSO fit in this process? Can we
add our joint expertise?
Questions or Answers on the questions of this
presentation?