EU visitors to Spain denied hospital care

Commission has received complaints about 20 hospitals.

The European Commission has warned that it may launch infringement action against Spain unless the country’s hospitals stop refusing emergency treatment to European Union citizens on holiday. The Commission is receiving reports, concerning 20 different hospitals, of treatment being refused to foreign EU nationals unless they pay on the spot.

Under EU law, member states must offer foreign EU citizens who present a valid European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) the same treatment as nationals for emergency medical care. The bill should then be submitted to the health authorities of the patient’s home country.

“In some cases people were apparently left in pain in the corridor until they paid up, or gave details of their private travel health insurance,” said Jonathan Todd, spokesperson for European commissioner for social affairs László Andor.

It is the private travel insurance companies that have lodged the complaints with the Commission, saying they should not be liable for the charges. One complaint was filed by an individual EU citizen. There have also been media reports that the same thing is happening in Portugal, Italy and Greece. However, for the moment, the Commission is considering action against only Spain.

“The Spanish authorities say they’ve made clear to the regional authorities the practices have to cease, but we’ve continued to receive complaints,” said Todd.

Private insurers are warning that the increasingly pervasive nature of the problem is threatening the EHIC system. It comes at a time when the member states are supposed to be increasing the ease of cross-border care through the cross-border healthcare directive.

The directive requires that patients should be able to receive treatment in another member state as long as it is cleared in advance with their national health authority.

Monika Kosinska of the European Public Health Alliance said the refusal to recognise the EHIC is a worrying sign for EU healthcare during the economic crisis. “It is extraordinary that not only citizens’ legal rights but also European solidarity is being undermined in this way,” she said.