EU Ministers reject Directive proposal on patients’ rights in cross-border healthcare

09-12-2009

Spain and Hungary lead efforts to block Directive proposal on ‘the application of patients’ rights in cross-border healthcare’.

At the end of last Tuesday‘s Council meeting it was clear that the future of the proposal in question was in doubt despite of its approval by the EP in first reading last April.

Spain and Hungary were in fact the most vocal of nine countries who were actively disagreeing with the proposed text. Sweden, current chair of the EU Council, has battled for a compromise until the last moment, but was forced to concede defeat after last-ditch discussions broke down.

“There are member states that still have difficulties reaching an agreement that could have meant certainty for our member states and fellow citizens,” said Göran Hägglund, Sweden's health and social affairs minister, who chaired the meeting. “I am forced to conclude that we are not going to make any more progress.”

The European Commission said it may now abandon the proposal, leaving the European Court of Justice (ECJ) to decide when patients are entitled to be reimbursed for healthcare treatment in another EU country.

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