Directive on the application of Directive on the application of patients’ rights in cross-border patients’ rights in cross-border

healthcare healthcare Recent developments 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/EUas published April 4th 2011

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/EUTowards a European policy of cross-border patients’ rights and

cross-border healthcare:

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/EUbefore 25 October 2013 (a lot of work to do) Member States have to adopt the necessary laws and

regulations and administrative provisions Including for MST ( Member State of Treatment ) :

Provisions to ensure access to good quality cross-border health care (art 4) standards and guidelines / information.

Including for MSA ( Member States of Affiliation ): Prior authorisation ( in limited cases); Reimbursement procedures .

The Future of the Directive 2011/24/EUIncluding : National contact point(s) per MS (art 6 ) ( information) Promotion of Co-operation in healthcare between MST Standards and guidelines on quality and safety laid down by

the MST(art 4,1b ); Relevant Information including provisions on supervision

and assessment of healthcare providers (art 4,2a); Relevant information to help individual patients make an

informed choice (art 4, 2b); Transparent procedures in case of harm (art 4, 2c); 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: •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?