Conclusions and recommendations

• Author: European Court of Auditors
• Pages: 34-37

34

Conclusions and recommendations

66 We examined the Commission’s oversight of the transposition of the Cross-

border Healthcare Directive in the Member States and the results achieved so far for

cross-border exchanges of health data. We also assessed EU actions in the field of rare

disease policy. We sought to answer the following question:

Do EU actions in cross-border healthcare deliver benefits for patients?

67 We conclude that while EU actions in cross-border healthcare were ambitious

and enhanced Member States collaboration, they require better management. The

impact on patients was limited at the time of our audit.

68 We found that the Commission oversaw the implementation of the Directive in

the Member States well (paragraphs 23 to 28), and supported the work of National

Contact Points responsible for providing information for cross-border patients. It has

recently developed a practical toolbox for the NCPs. However, EU patients still face

challenges in accessing healthcare abroad and only a minority of potential patients are

aware about their rights to seek cross border healthcare. The complexity of cross-

border healthcare treatment pathways available for patients under the Cross-border

Healthcare Directive and Social Security Coordination Regulation makes it difficult to

provide patients with clear information. NCPs give limited information about ERNs on

their websites (paragraphs 29 to 32).

Recommendation 1 – Provide more support for National

Contact Points

The Commission should:

(a) building on former actions, support the work of National Contact Points,

including on how best to communicate the relationship between the Cross-border

Healthcare Directive and the Social Security Coordination Regulation pathways,

(b) provide guidance on presenting information about European Reference Networks

on the National Contact Points websites;

(c) follow up on the use by National Contact Points of the 2018 toolbox.

Target implementation date: 2020