Cavan/Monaghan Fianna Fáil TD Brendan Smith has called on the Minister for Health to ensure that the EU Cross Border Healthcare Directive remains in place post Brexit with particular reference to Northern Ireland and Britain.
“Over recent years more and more patients have had procedures and healthcare undertaken in Northern Ireland and Britain under the Cross Border Healthcare Directive. This Healthcare Directive covers all of the European Union but the vast majority of patients who avail of this Scheme have had the treatment provided in Northern Ireland or Britain.
With Britain no longer a Member of the European Union and the Transition Period ending on the 31st December it is essential that the continuity of this Scheme is secured.
The Minister for Health in his reply to my Parliamentary Questions in Dáil Éireann has confirmed that his officials are giving detailed consideration to a number of policy and legal issues associated with the feasibility of implementing a unilateral Cross Border Directive type arrangement which would provide that Irish residents could continue to access services provided by private health service providers in Britain post the end of the Transition Period.
It is essential that the present arrangements remain in place from the end of this year due to the value of this Scheme in enabling patients on waiting lists access healthcare in a more timely manner. In particular specialities where there are long hospital waiting lists access to healthcare in Northern Ireland or Britain has been very beneficial to many patients and the retention of this system is very important”, stated Brendan Smith TD.
The Minister in his reply in Dáil Éireann stated –
“Both the Irish and British Governments are committed to maintaining, in so far as possible, the current healthcare arrangements under the Common Travel Area (CTA). Under the CTA, Irish citizens and British citizens who live in, work in, or visit the other state have the right to access publicly funded health services there. The Government is working to ensure that new arrangements through a Memorandum of Understanding with the UK will provide for continued access to reciprocal health services, between Ireland and the UK, including on the island of Ireland, which residents in both jurisdictions currently access.
It is acknowledged however that the UK’s withdrawal from the EU has implications for healthcare arrangements that currently operate under the EU legislative framework, including those arrangements covered by the Cross Border Directive (CBD). With effect from 1 January 2021, the provisions of the CBD will no longer apply to the UK. My officials are giving detailed consideration to a number of policy and legal issues associated with the feasibility of implementing a unilateral CBD type arrangement which will provide that Irish residents can continue to access services provided by private health service providers in the UK post the end of the Transition Period”, concluded Minister Donnelly in his reply to Deputy Brendan Smith.
Below please find replies to my Parliamentary Questions –
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For Written Answer on : 19/11/2020
Question Number(s): 327,328 Question Reference(s): 37698/20, 37699/20
Department: Health
Asked by: Brendan Smith T.D.
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QUESTION
* To ask the Minister for Health the measures being taken to ensure that the EU Cross Border Directive on health-care remains in place post-Brexit with particular reference to Northern Ireland and the UK; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
– Brendan Smith T.D.
For WRITTEN answer on Thursday, 19 November, 2020.
* To ask the Minister for Health the outcome of discussions if any that have been held with the Departments of Health in Northern Ireland and the UK in relation to the EU Cross Border Directive on health-care post-Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
– Brendan Smith T.D.
For WRITTEN answer on Thursday, 19 November, 2020.
REPLY
Both the Irish and British Governments are committed to maintaining, in so far as possible, the current healthcare arrangements under the Common Travel Area (CTA). Under the CTA, Irish citizens and British citizens who live in, work in, or visit the other state have the right to access publicly funded health services there. The Government is working to ensure that new arrangements through a Memorandum of Understanding with the UK will provide for continued access to reciprocal health services, between Ireland and the UK, including on the island of Ireland, which residents in both jurisdictions currently access.
It is acknowledged however that the UK’s withdrawal from the EU has implications for healthcare arrangements that currently operate under the EU legislative framework, including those arrangements covered by the Cross Border Directive (CBD). With effect from 1 January 2021, the provisions of the CBD will no longer apply to the UK. My officials are giving detailed consideration to a number of policy and legal issues associated with the feasibility of implementing a unilateral CBD type arrangement which will provide that Irish residents can continue to access services provided by private health service providers in the UK post the end of the Transition Period.