The Directive is operating since 25th of October, 2013.
What is the Cross-border Directive?
The purpose of the Cross-border Directive (2011/24/EU) "On the application of patients' rights in cross-border healthcare" is to determine the rules regarding access to cross-border health care services. The Directive is related to the Member States of the European Union, the European Economic Area (Island, Norway, Liechtenstein) and Switzerland.
What is the target of the Cross-border Directive?
Cross-border Directive determines patients' rights in cross-border healthcare, facilitating patient and health care professional interaction.
What opportunities does the Cross-border Directive have to offer?
- to turn to contact points of the respective countries (in Latvia it is the National Health Service), providing information regarding the health care in the respective country and regarding the procedure, according to which it is possible to receive health care in other EU countries, Island, Norway, Liechtenstein and Switzerland;
- to receive reimbursement of costs for planned health care received in another country (citizens of Latvia may receive reimbursement in accordance with the health care service rates, which are effective in Latvia);
- to use a prescription for medicines or medical equipment issued in one country for the receipt in another country;
- to receive reimbursement for damage caused to human life or health by medical institution - in order to implement it in Latvia, the Treatment Risk Fund has been established in the National Health Service.
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