BMJ  2007;334:188-190 (27 January), doi:10.1136/bmj.39086.497639.68

Analysis

Patient mobility in the European Union

¹ London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London WC1E 7HT, ² Observatoire Sociale Européen, Brussels, Belgium

Getting healthcare in another European country should be straightforward, but it often creates problems for both patients and healthcare systems

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

In September 2006 the European Commission launched a consultation on health services, focusing mainly on movement of patients across borders.¹ The longstanding view that health care was the preserve of national governments has been rendered untenable by the European Court of Justice. Its judgments place health services firmly on the European agenda, upholding the right of individuals to obtain care abroad paid for by their home health system in specific circumstances (box). We discuss why patients seek care abroad, examine the medical and legal issues that this raises, and outline some possible responses.

European legal basis for patient mobility The legal basis for patient mobility in Europe was established in 1971 through regulation 1408/712: The E111 scheme enabled people temporarily abroad to get treatment if they became ill, with care being paid for by their home funder People were also able to obtain care in another country with prior authorisation—for example, someone who had migrated . . . [Full text of this article]

Who seeks care abroad and why?

Temporary visitors abroad

People retiring to other countries

People in border regions

People sent abroad by their home systems

People going abroad on their own initiative

Future challenges

Summary points

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