Executive summary

• Author: European Court of Auditors
• Pages: 4-5

4

Executive summary

I While cross-border healthcare remains marginal in comparison to healthcare

delivered domestically, in some situations, the most accessible or appropriate care for

patients is available in a Member State other than their home country. Patients’ ability

to make a free and informed choice to access cross-border healthcare can improve

their healthcare.

II The 2011 Cross-border Healthcare Directive seeks to guarantee EU patients’ right of

access to safe and high-quality healthcare across national borders within the EU, and

their rights to be reimbursed for such care. The Directive facilitates closer cooperation

in a number of areas: notably the cross-border exchange of patients’ data and access

to healthcare for patients with rare diseases.

III Approximately 200 000 patients a year take advantage of the systems put in place

under the Directive to receive healthcare treatments abroad: less than 0.05 % of EU

citizens. In recent years, France reported the highest number of outgoing patients and

Spain the highest number of incoming patients. The majority of patient mobility has

been between neighbourin g Member States.

IV We examined whether the Commission has overseen the implementation of the

Directive in the Member States well and provided guidance to the National Contact

Points responsible for informing patients about their right to cross-border healthcare.

We assessed whether the results achieved for cross-border exchanges of patients’ data

were in line with expectations and demonstrated benefits to patients. We also

examined key recent EU actions in the field of rare diseases focusing on the creation of

the European Reference Networks. These networks seek to share knowledge, provide

advice on diagnosis and treatment through virtual consultations between healthcare

providers across Europe, and thus raise standards of care.

V We conclude that while EU actions in cross-border healthcare enhanced

cooperation between Member States, the impact on patients was limited at the time

of our audit. These actions are ambitious and require better management.

VI The Commission has overseen the implementation of the Cross-border Healthcare

Directive well. It has guided the National Contact Points towards providing better

information on cross-border healthcare, but there remains some scope for

improvement.