Sept 25th 2008 - Social Package (second part), cross border healthcare

Delivered by Derek Clark on 25 September 2008

Tags: Social, package, border, healthcare, coss, home, country, provision, cost

Speech to Parliament Brussels Sept 25th 2008

Debate; Social Package (second part), cross border healthcare

The central feature of this package, travelling for non hospital treatment outside the home country, funding is by the home country but limited to the amount it would have cost there.

So a patient benefits by going to where the treatment is cheaper, as long as it is better treatment.

Health tourists have to find the difference between costs where treated and the home country basic provision. Yes, travel costs are paid, ultimately by the home country but at their own level, leaving the health tourist to find the treatment top-up and, probably, a travel cost excess.

The poorest can not afford to do this and they are left in the lowest standard of treatment. The rich can do so, but they could well go for private treatment anyway.

Regarding waiting lists, if healthcare in a country is poor and expensive they will not be troubled by health tourists. But where it is cheap and good they would soon be overburdened

It therefore produces a two tier healthcare system. Is that what they call an unintended consequence?

Derek Clark MEP               
Brussels Sept 25th 2008