Alternattiva Demokratika – The Green Party, as part of the European Greens, welcomed the agreement within the European Parliament on cross-border healthcare. AD said the legislation strikes the right balance between patients’ right to cross-border healthcare and providing safe quality health services at national level. In practice, Maltese patients waiting for an operation will be able to seek treatment anywhere in the EU and get a partial or full refund of the expenses from 2013.

Nighat Urpani, AD spokesperson for Social Protection and Health, said, “Each EU country is free to decide on the health policies best suited to national circumstances and traditions, but they all share common values. These include the right of everyone to the same high standards of public health and equity in access to quality health care. So it makes sense to work together on common challenges. Being able to travel freely, or to live and work anywhere in the EU only makes sense if EU citizens can be sure of obtaining health care wherever they go. The European Union’s citizens need access to reliable and high-quality health advice and assistance. To this end, through joint action that adds value, the European Parliament adopted a final legislative compromise on new EU rules on access and rights to cross-border healthcare.”

Michael Briguglio, AD Chairperson, added, “The legislation strikes the right balance between guaranteeing patients’ rights to cross-border healthcare and providing safe quality health services at national level. Patients will have the right to get treated in other member states and can claim for reimbursement, though not at the expense of the viability of national health system. A reasonable system of prior authorisation for the reimbursement of treatment costs can be established, with MEPs agreeing on limiting the list of reasons for which the reimbursement can be refused for cross-border treatment. But once the prior authorisation has been granted, the member states would not be in a position to refuse reimbursement.”

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