European Cross Border Healthcare Directive Ratified - Treatment Abroad Can Help NHS Patients be Medical Tourists
London, United Kingdom, January 21, 2011 --(PR.com)-- The long awaited EU Directive on Cross Border Healthcare has been ratified by the EU Parliament on Wednesday. Despite opposition from some EU countries, the new Directive, which could be in force as early as 2013 will make it easier for patients to seek medical treatment in another member state.
NHS patients wishing to travel to other EU countries for medical treatment will be able to reclaim the cost of treatment from the NHS. Patients who exercise the right to cross border healthcare will have to pay their travel and accommodation costs, plus any top-up fees if charges in the foreign hospitals are higher than the NHS tariff. In some EU countries treatment may be cheaper than in the UK, therefore the Directive could potentially save the NHS money although these savings will not be directly passed on to the individual patient.
While part of the Directive states that national contact points must be established to consult and liaise between patient organisations, health care insurers and health care providers the patients themselves must initiate, research and arrange all aspects of any treatment undertaken abroad. Additionally once a patient leaves the UK the NHS will not have any responsibility for the patient until they return to the UK.
Keith Pollard, a leading international expert on medical travel and Managing Director of Treatment Abroad, welcomes the Directive and believes that; “The ratification of the Directive will extend patient choice and give patients here and throughout the EU better access to healthcare.
“It is an important step for patients’ rights, and could significantly change the way patients consume healthcare in the UK and throughout Europe and as a result take the concept of patient choice to a new level. As more patients take advantage of cross border healthcare we may see an improvement in standards throughout the region as member states compete for patients and revenue from incoming patients. Competition from European hospitals could speed the changes within the NHS which now faces European competition,” says Pollard.
www.treatmentabroad.com has a worldwide reputation as the leading online provider of information for patients about all aspects of medical travel. For the last seven years the Treatment Abroad website has been at the forefront of providing reliable, up to date and comprehensive information for patients seeking information about overseas treatment including advice about clinics, hospitals, and specialists within the EU. The website currently gets 70,000 visitors a month and is expecting an increase in visitors as prospective NHS patients use the site to make informed decisions when choosing destinations, facilities and doctors for their treatment.
“The introduction of the Directive will be a boon for many, giving access to top quality healthcare and treatments not available in their home country as well as cutting waiting times. However patients need to be aware that it is up them to research and arrange every aspect of their trip and treatment,” says Pollard.
Last year around 60,000 people left the UK for treatment and patients who have become ‘medical tourists’ have been extremely positive about their experience and the quality of care they have received within the European Community and from the information and advice provided by www.treatmentabroad.com.
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www.treatmentabroad.com
Keith Pollard is available for comment, please contact: Caroline Ratner at Caroline Ratner Communications www.carolineratnercommunications.com 020 8209 0120 caroline@carolinecomms.com
NHS patients wishing to travel to other EU countries for medical treatment will be able to reclaim the cost of treatment from the NHS. Patients who exercise the right to cross border healthcare will have to pay their travel and accommodation costs, plus any top-up fees if charges in the foreign hospitals are higher than the NHS tariff. In some EU countries treatment may be cheaper than in the UK, therefore the Directive could potentially save the NHS money although these savings will not be directly passed on to the individual patient.
While part of the Directive states that national contact points must be established to consult and liaise between patient organisations, health care insurers and health care providers the patients themselves must initiate, research and arrange all aspects of any treatment undertaken abroad. Additionally once a patient leaves the UK the NHS will not have any responsibility for the patient until they return to the UK.
Keith Pollard, a leading international expert on medical travel and Managing Director of Treatment Abroad, welcomes the Directive and believes that; “The ratification of the Directive will extend patient choice and give patients here and throughout the EU better access to healthcare.
“It is an important step for patients’ rights, and could significantly change the way patients consume healthcare in the UK and throughout Europe and as a result take the concept of patient choice to a new level. As more patients take advantage of cross border healthcare we may see an improvement in standards throughout the region as member states compete for patients and revenue from incoming patients. Competition from European hospitals could speed the changes within the NHS which now faces European competition,” says Pollard.
www.treatmentabroad.com has a worldwide reputation as the leading online provider of information for patients about all aspects of medical travel. For the last seven years the Treatment Abroad website has been at the forefront of providing reliable, up to date and comprehensive information for patients seeking information about overseas treatment including advice about clinics, hospitals, and specialists within the EU. The website currently gets 70,000 visitors a month and is expecting an increase in visitors as prospective NHS patients use the site to make informed decisions when choosing destinations, facilities and doctors for their treatment.
“The introduction of the Directive will be a boon for many, giving access to top quality healthcare and treatments not available in their home country as well as cutting waiting times. However patients need to be aware that it is up them to research and arrange every aspect of their trip and treatment,” says Pollard.
Last year around 60,000 people left the UK for treatment and patients who have become ‘medical tourists’ have been extremely positive about their experience and the quality of care they have received within the European Community and from the information and advice provided by www.treatmentabroad.com.
###
www.treatmentabroad.com
Keith Pollard is available for comment, please contact: Caroline Ratner at Caroline Ratner Communications www.carolineratnercommunications.com 020 8209 0120 caroline@carolinecomms.com
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