§ 25. Mr. Awberyasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if he is aware of the hardship which falls upon tourists who have to pay medical charges when taken ill abroad; with what countries negotiations concerning reciprocal arrangements for medical treatment as regards National Health Service benefits are in progress; and what replies have been received.
§ Mr. Wadeasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance with what countries negotiations about reciprocal arrangements as regards National Health Service benefits provided for visitors are in progress; and what countries have indicated that they are unwilling or unable to negotiate such arrangements.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterMy right hon. Friend the Minister of Health and I are well aware of this problem and, when I am negotiating reciprocal agreements on social security, I miss no opportunity of seeing whether we can include a provision to enable tourists from this country to receive medical treatment under the 93W sickness insurance schemes of the other countries. Fifteen of our agreements contain provisions about medical treatment but only five countries, namely, New Zealand, Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Yugoslavia have been able so far to undertake to provide treatment for our tourists. No negotiations on this matter are at present in progress.