Thirteen years after the implementation of the European Directive on cross-border healthcare, many patients still face financial and bureaucratic obstacles when they need treatment in another country of the European Union.
Report 2025/2206(INL), which is being promoted in the European Parliament by AKEL MEP Giorgos Georgiou, attempts to address the weaknesses. This is a legislative initiative and not changes that have already been implemented.
The main proposal is the abolition of advance payments. Today, the patient often has to pay for the treatment himself and later claim compensation. This presupposes that he or she may have thousands of euros at his disposal, with the result that financially weaker citizens are practically excluded. It is therefore proposed that a direct settlement be made between the competent bodies of the States.
It also calls for coverage of travel and subsistence costs based on income criteria, as well as a European support mechanism for states that are unable to afford it.
Member States are required to publish clear lists of treatments that need prior authorisation, so that citizens know what they are entitled to and what procedure they should follow. At the same time, it is proposed to strengthen the National Contact Points and create a single, multilingual European information centre.
Special care is provided for children, with faster access to specialized care and coverage of their expenses and their companions. For patients with rare or complex conditions, multi-year renewable licenses and the possibility of participating in clinical trials are recommended.
The proposal also covers telemedicine, e-prescriptions and the secure exchange of medical data. The point is that the right to receive care abroad does not remain theoretical, but can be exercised regardless of the patient's financial capacity.
