Françoise Grossetête (EPP, FR) makes a statement on patients' rights in cross-border healthcare, in the European Parliament in Brussels.

Brussels

statement

cross-border healthcare (T)

GROSSETÊTE, Françoise (EPP, FR)

Patients' rights in cross-border healthcare: statement by Françoise Grossetête (EPP, FR)

SOUNDBITE (French), Fran&#231;oise GROSSET&#202;TE (EPP, FR), The member states worries are linked to social security system financing mode., of the financing of the social protection in each member state. You know that in each member state there is indeed a heavy deficit, difficult to support, and this is actually the reason of the worries wake up with this directive. In reality this directive concerns only 1% of the population according to the Commission evaluation, and concerns especially those European citizens living near the border, or eventually that might concerns European citizens needing a special care in a different member state. But this is not a general rule. In the normal life we wish to make the medical treatment in our home state, because we do know the medical service.

SOUNDBITE (French), Fran&#231;oise GROSSET&#202;TE (EPP, FR), This Directive is made for all European citizens needing health care. This is not a Directive made for creating a medical tourism. This is not what we wish. We wish, on the contrary to not have any more discrimination based on the financial potential of each citizen. Today an European citizens wishing to have medical care in a different member state if he is having good financial support he doesn't need to think about getting his money back . And there was the discrimination. We do not wish this, we want to have equal treatment for all citizens.

SOUNDBITE (French), Fran&#231;oise GROSSET&#202;TE (EPP, FR), It is true that at the beginning we didn't want that the prior authorisation must me a rule, but an exception. But you know, we are negotiating with 27 member states, and as the subject is very sensitive, if we want to achieve an agreement in the second reading, everybody must make an effort. So the Parliament makes the effort to accept this prior authorisation, but this must come in a reasonable time, something like 15 days, so relatively short delay, to not make the procedure too heavy. Also we wish to have very transparent refusal criteria when, if there is the case. This is very important, and the parliament in its discussions with the Council will be very vigilant in those questions 02.45 Cutaway - views in the committee room handshake.