Brussels, 21/04/2004 (Agence Europe) - At the initiative of Commissioners David Byrne (health), Stavros Dimas (social affairs) and Erkki Liikanen (information society), the Commission has adopted a communication on follow-up to the high level process of reflection on the mobility of patients and the development of healthcare within the EU. In the context of this mobility, patients must have easier access to quality and affordable healthcare, in any EU Member State. They must also be clearly informed about the merits of available treatment so that insurance schemes may enter into play for reimbursement of the care prescribed. In short, "the aim of this communication is to inform citizens on their rights and on the way to exercise these rights and to make them know that they can appeal should these rights be refused", Commissioner Byrne told the press.
The communication comprises three elements: 1) a political document relating to patient mobility and to healthcare, which includes: - better patient information on how to gain access to treatment in the states other than the Member State of origin; - measures which, for national care providers, facilitate the use of available capacities (for example empty hospital beds) in the other Member States; - the setting in place of networks of health specialists and centres of excellence throughout the EU as well as coordination of assessment of new health technologies; - systematic exchange of best practices. A high level group on health services and medical care has been set in place to support European cooperation in the Member States in these areas in order to help patients obtain quality health care and contribute to improving the effectiveness of health systems; 2) the launching of the open coordination method for supporting national efforts in favour of reform and development of health care, long-term care and social protection, with emphasis on the need for accessible care that is also of quality and affordable; 3) an action plan on telehealth devoted to the role of technologies and new ways to administer health care by improving access to care, quality and effectiveness.