EU plans for health tourism

Health tourism has hit the headlines over the past week with the Commission unveiling their proposals designed to clarify the rules for people to get treatment in different EU countries, potentially making it easier for them to do so.

While there has been some concerns that the NHS would be weighted down with extra costs, the fact is only one percent of health care budget is currently spent across borders. One of the things the new measures intend to do is regulate the current system so people can be certain that the health care they will recieve will be of a certain standard.

The Daily Mail is surprising pleased with the news as it has discovered dental care will be included and this exactly the sort of reason these proposals are being introduced. Different countries have different areas with spare capacity and different shortages and, by allowing people to travel for care, Europe can share a far bigger pool of resources, whilst each health service remains in charge of its own system and in control how much is spent.

As the BBC explains, "If the cost of treatment abroad exceeds the cost of similar treatment at home, the patient will have to pay the difference, under the Commission's scheme."

And should a country not be able to afford funding a significant amount of patients travelling abroad then they will be able to apply an emergency break.

You can read more about the details of this in this article in the FT.