Conclusions of the Council and of the Representatives of the Member States meeting in the Council of 19 July 2002 on patient mobility and health care developments in the European Union
Date: 2002-07-19
Institutions: Council of the European Union, Representatives of the Governments of the Member States
Subjects: cross-border cooperation, exchange of information, free movement of persons, health care, health care system, health policy, organisation of health care

1.8.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 183/1

I

(Information)

COUNCIL

Conclusions of the Council and of the Representatives of the Member States meeting in the
Council of 19 July 2002 on patient mobility and health care developments in the European Union

(2002/C 183/01)

1. The Council and the Representatives of the Member States
meeting in the Council recognise that
the health care
systems in the European Union share common principles
of solidarity, equity and universality, despite their diversity.
They also recognise the emerging interaction between
health systems within the European Union particularly as
a result of the free movement of citizens, and their desire to
have access to high-quality health services.

fully
Community and its Member States
involved regarding the implications of
In
particular, the Ministers of Health should be fully involved
in this process.

should be
this process.

regional arrangements, which respect

4. With regard to developing cross-border cooperation, the
Council and Member States' representatives recognise that
bilateral or
the
competence of Member States to organise their health
care systems and which are in accordance with relevant
Community legislation, can play an important role, and
sharing information
they underline the importance of
about
that patient
mobility, especially concerned with tourism or long-term
residence abroad, presents particular challenges in terms
of the need to exchange clinical and other information, in
order to ensure proper follow-up and continuity of care.
inter alia,
They recognise the importance of cooperation,
in order to
to examine the benefit of reference centres,
facilitate the most effective treatment
for those diseases
requiring specialist interventions.

such initiatives. They

emphasise

fully respect

the responsibilities of

2. The Council recalls that according to Article 152 of the
Treaty, Community action in the field of public health
the Member
must
States for the organisation and delivery of health services
and medical care. However, it recognises that other devel-
opments, such as those relating to the single market, have
an impact on health systems. The Council is concerned that
these should be consistent with the Member States' health
policy objectives, and the common principles outlined
above. It therefore considers that there is added value in
examining certain health issues from a perspective that
goes beyond national borders. In this context it welcomes
the debate at the seminar of health ministers held in Malage
in February 2002 which set out a number of priority issues
for
the expert
discussions on this subject.

further cooperation and takes note of

5. The Council

recognises

the new programme of
that
Community action in the field of public health together
with, inter alia, the new research and telematics programmes
provide a framework to pursue a number of
issues in
relation to mobility of patients,
in particular aspects
relating to information and exchanges of experience.

3. The Council takes note of the ongoing work in the future of
health care and care for the elderly being carried out by the
Social Protection Committee and the Economic Policy
Committee on the basis of the conclusions of successive
European Councils. It als notes the work being undertaken
on the reform and modernisation of Regulation (EEC) No
1408/71 which should provide a simplified framework to
the
support,
inter alia, patient mobility.
necessity to take health concerns and patients'
interests
fully into account in this process in which the delivery of
care shall be another main concern together with the
the
administrative

It underlines

instances of

issues. The

relevant

6. In the light of

these considerations,

the Council and
Member States' representatives consider that
there is a
need to strengthen cooperation in order to promote the
greatest opportunities for access to health care of high
quality while maintaining the financial sustainability of
health care systems in the European Union. The imminent
enlargement of the Euopean Union makes this even more
imperative.

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Official Journal of the European Communities

1.8.2002

7. To this end the Council and the Representatives of the

Member States meeting in the Council:

aim at developing timely conclusions for possible further
action.

— recognise that there would be value in the Commission
pursuing in close cooperation with the Council and all
the Member States — particularly health ministers and
other key stakeholders — a high level process of
reflection. This process should be closely coordinated
with relevant work ongoing in different fora, including
action already initiated in the context of the Lisbon
process. This high-level process of
reflection, about
which they wish to be kept regularly informed, should

— welcome the Commission's intention to take forward
inter alia, by including relevant
the programme of

work in this field,
actions
Community action in the field of public health.

in its work plan for

8. The Council and Member States' rerpresentatives will return
to this issue at the next meeting of the Health Council,
taking into account
the reflection
process mentioned above.

the developments of