WRITTEN QUESTION E-0195/03

by Erik Meijer (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(31 January 2003)

Subject: Netherlands heavy dependency on the use of hospitals in neighbouring countries as a result of its own inadequate domestic provision

1. Is the Commission aware that the swingeing cuts in the number of hospital beds and the closure of entire hospitals resulting from the economy measures taken over the years in the healthcare sector in the Netherlands means that that country now has permanent waiting lists for patients who need to be admitted to hospital?

2. Is it also aware that the Netherlands attempts to overcome the shortage in part by using the requisite services in neighbouring countries which have more hospital beds and doctors?

3. Is the Commission aware that, in execution of a contract with a Dutch sickness insurance company, the hospital in Genk, Belgium, has, to date, treated more than 6 000 Dutch patients on the same basis as Belgian insured patients but that that hospital does not want to extend the contract without changes being made to it on the grounds that Belgian patients are now being put on waiting lists and that the operations being carried out on Dutch nationals are more complicated and, hence, much more costly than was expected?

4. Does the Commission agree with me that, in instances of this nature, what is happening here no longer simply involves the individual patient's freedom of choice, promoted by the EU, to be treated on an equal footing in a hospital in another Member State and that the result thereof is an increasing dependency on the provision of services in a neighbouring country which seriously threatens the patient's freedom of choice?

5. Does the Commission deem it acceptable for a Member State to transfer the consequences of the failures in its own healthcare system structurally and permanently on to an neighbouring country which has organised its healthcare services more efficiently instead of first solving its problems internally with the greatest possible speed?

6. What help is the Commission giving with a view to ensuring that a fair balance is struck in the Member States and, possibly, in the regions between the provision of hospital services and the calls thereon so that the possibility of using services in neighbouring countries once again involves exclusively freedom of choice which is determined by quality and proximity instead of permanent dependence on the neighbouring countries as a result of a country's own failings?

Source: Het Journaal Laat, TV-1 Vlaanderen, (The Late Show, Flanders-1 TV) 21 January 2003.

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(4 March 2003)

The Commission would like to remind the Honourable Member that the EC Treaty stresses that Member States retain responsibility for the organisation and delivery of health services and medical care. Nevertheless, according to settled case-law, the Member States must comply with Community law when exercising that power. The Commission follows closely how health services are being used across Community borders. This raises a number of health policy issues. In order to discuss these in detail, it has initiated a high level reflection process with Ministers of Health and key stakeholders. The purpose of this group is to identify areas in which intensified co-operation at Union level would be beneficial. Some of the issues raised by the Honourable Member could possibly be addressed in this context.