§ Lord Jenkin of Rodingasked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Jay of Paddington on 3 June (WA 36), when Ministers expect to complete their consideration of the cases of 45WA Decker and Kohll in the European Court of Justice, which concern the rights of citizens of one European Union state to have medical treatment in another European Union state paid for by the authorities of the former state. [HL2371]
§ Baroness Jay of PaddingtonAll European Union member states and the European Commission are giving careful and in depth consideration to the effect of the judgments on the purchase of spectacles and access to orthodontic treatment across the European Community. It is important that the issue is dealt with properly and agreement reached across the European Union on the principles involved. We cannot say when this process will be completed, although our officials are working, with those in the Commission and other member states, towards a speedy resolution. The United Kingdom Government welcome the Court's reaffirmation of the important principle that it is for member states to determine the organisation of their own healthcare systems. Our initial assessment is that the terms of the judgment do not apply to services provided within the hospital infrastructure obtained in another member state. As my reply of 3 June at col.WA 36 stated, under existing European Community Regulations people may already obtain medical treatment in another member state subject to certain conditions.