” “”Sometimes, health treatments are delivered more effectively in a EU state that is not the one of the person who needs them”, and "patients’ mobility" is "a right recognised by the European Court of Justice”: with these words, the EU Commissioner for health and consumer protection, Markos Kyprianou, explained the referendum launched yesterday, September 5th, by the European Commission. The goal of the initiative is the creation of a EU reference framework for across-the-border health services, in order to guarantee effective protection for such right and to promote cooperation among the health systems of the EU member states. The referendum will be based on a notice that will be formulated by commissioner Kyprianou. Safety, quality and effectiveness in health services: these are the goals to be pursued. The first step will be a referendum on the conditions on which across-the-border health care must be authorised and paid for; on the information to be provided to patients about the treatments available in the other EU member states; on the appointment of the health authorities in charge of supervising health care; on liability for damages caused by across-the-border health services and related damage compensation; on patients’ rights and support to health systems through European cooperation. Based on the replies given to this referendum, in 2007 the Commission will formulate some formal proposals. This debate has been going on since 1998.” “
