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Barriers to heath care in the single market

BMJ 1995; 310 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.310.6990.1288b (Published 20 May 1995) Cite this as: BMJ 1995;310:1288

The European Union is a complex creature at the best of times. But it can become a nightmare when patients and practitioners come up against public health services in another union country. Lack of information and red tape can prevent doctors from working abroad and, more dangerously, prevent patients from receiving the care they expect when they are taken ill elsewhere in the union.

This picture of hidden health barriers has emerged from the health hotline organised earlier this month by the Brussels based European Public Health Alliance (EPHA) with the backing of Euro Citizen Action Service and the European Commission. The four day exercise attracted over 100 calls a day from around the union. The results are being given to Euro MPs and, on 2 June, to union health ministers when they meet in Luxembourg.

They …

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