More work needed for European Cross-border Healthcare Directive to take account of devolved healthcare in Wales
The National Assembly for Wales’ European & External Affairs Committee has called for more pressure on the European institutions to ensure that a draft Directive on Patients’ Rights in Cross-border Healthcare takes account of devolution.
Members recommend that the Welsh Government urges the UK Government to seek an amendment to the draft Directive to collect data on patient flows at regional level rather than just at Member State level.
The Committee is also seeking assurances that a full equality assessment of the Directive is undertaken to ensure it meets the needs of all Welsh patients.
“The Directive needs to make specific reference to the existence of decentralised healthcare systems in a number of Member States in Europe,” said Committee Chair, Sandy Mewies AM.
“This is of particular relevance within the UK where healthcare is largely a devolved competence managed by Wales. The way that health services are delivered in Wales is quite different from in England for example, and not enough is known about the potential impact on the Welsh NHS if more people decide to seek treatment abroad.
“We are particularly concerned about questions of equity of access, how patients get information on cross-border healthcare, patient redress if problems should arise, continuity of care for patients who go to another part of the EU for treatment, as well as the potential impacts that cross-border movement of patients could have on healthcare systems.”
The Committee has today published an interim report of its inquiry into the draft Directive on Patients’ Rights in Cross-border Healthcare, to highlight the emerging issues of significance to Wales at this stage in negotiations. The Directive has not yet been adopted and a number of issues are still to be resolved at Member State level. The UK Government leads on negotiations in Europe, and by reporting its key conclusions and recommendations now, the Committee aims to have its views taken into account by the Welsh government, UK Government, European Commission and European Parliament, before the Directive is adopted and begins to be transposed into law in Wales.