Immediate action needed on Cross Border Healthcare

Sligo Leitrim Independent TD Marian Harkin has called on the government to get rid of the red tape and bureaucracy that Irish patients are facing when they avail of the Cross Border Healthcare Directive to access healthcare in a timely manner in another EU country.

A recent report by the Ombudsman on the workings of the Cross Border Directive was critical of the roadblocks faced by some patients when trying to claim reimbursement from the HSE for healthcare accessed in another EU country.

Addressing European Affairs Minister, Peter Burke, in the Dáil, Deputy Harkin said the report makes clear the operation of this excellent scheme was sometimes hampered by the unreasonable and inflexible approach adopted by the HSE in administering it.

“Many people don't realize the value of the scheme which guarantees that, regardless of your income, if you are on a waiting list for some time in Ireland, you can access healthcare elsewhere in the EU using your own funds, and the HSE must reimburse you. But because of the way the HSE has operated it some patients had to fight for legitimate costs they had incurred,” the Deputy explained.

Ms Harkin said, “I worked on that Directive as a member of the European Parliament. My specific focus was to ensure that all citizens could avail of this important EU benefit, regardless of their income.

“This means that people can borrow from their Credit Union to pay for treatment anywhere in the EU, happy in the knowledge they will be reimbursed.

“The Ombudsman’s investigation examined the experiences of people who, under the terms of the Cross Border Directive, travelled abroad for their healthcare. According to his report many found themselves “caught in an administrative impasse when seeking reimbursement from the HSE”.

The Ombudsman said patients experienced the scheme to be “absolutely unforgiving and lacking in empathy when it came to administrative or pathway errors”.

“EU Directives can often mean little to people in their everyday lives,” Ms Harkins said, “but the Cross Border Directive is one that makes a real difference to people. It is such a shame to see it being hampered by national bureaucracy.”

The Deputy asked Minister Burke if the government would take on board all the recommendations contained in the Ombudsman 's report.

The Minister assured Ms Harkin that he would raise the issue with the Taoiseach.