Poland fears EU health directive will cause an increase in “medical tourism.”

Poland opposes the EU “Patients without borders” directive, according to which patients will be provided with health care services anywhere within the European Union.  

The directive would give Poles the right to get medical treatment abroad if they decide that it would be better in Germany, for instance, than in Poland. The cost of medical services and hospitalization would be partly covered by the National Health Fund (NFZ). Polish patients would be given back only the amount of money necessary to perform a similar medical procedure in Poland.  

Poland’s Ministry of Health and the National Health Fund oppose the directive. The ministry is afraid that it will cause mass migration of Polish patients abroad.

The EU system of health refunds also raises the ministry’s doubts. According to the directive, Poland’s health fund would have to pay for medical services provided by both public and private clinics, which would set a precedence because in Poland private health services are usually not included in the refund scheme.  

Spain, Portugal and Ireland also oppose the EU health directive. “We hope to reach an agreement but it’s difficult to say when it will happen,” a Swedish MEP told Polskie Radio. (mg/pg)