health care
Mon, 11/05/2009 - 7:49pm
health care
The EU should intensify its efforts towards establishing of a common health care system, based on know-how from the countries with the most effective systems. Together with Member States it should implement an equal basic standard of healthcare for each EU-citizen. There should be centralised oversight of provisions and standards. An independent mechanism for EU wide recognition of qualifications for medical and health care professionals should be developed and implemented.
Reimbursement of medication
Something should be done to make it possible for a person who has access to a particular medical treatment in their country to be able to move to another EU country and have the same access (ie: reimbursement). Today certain drugs are only reimbursed in some EU countries and not in others, which hinders mobility for fear of having to discontinue a particular medical treatment.
I would be cautious with harmonizing conditions for reimbursement though. If something of the like were to be done, it would definitely have to follow the most generous system and should not lead to less reimbursement. I'm not sure that it is the best solution. But some kind of "exception" should be granted to people who want to move to another EU country for work (for example) to enable them to continue their medical treatment in that country.
An important element towards a common health care system would be the harmonisation of professionals's formations and diplomas. Some of them are still not recognised by neighbouring administrations, leading to difficult disputes. Too many jobs are still closed to foreign but European practitioners which is an obvious hurdle to the freedom of circulation and establishment.