EUROPEAN HEALTH CARE CARD WELCOMED - DAVIES

12.12.37pm UTC (GMT +0000) Thu 21st Jul 2005

A trip to the Post Office for an E111 form is to become a thing of the past as North West travellers can apply for a new card to access 'hassle-free' medical treatment across Europe.

Last year the European Parliament backed plans to introduce a credit card style pass that will give EU citizens access to all forms of health care when travelling in Europe.

The card will replace the E111 forms currently available at post offices. These provide travellers access only to emergency treatment when on the continent.

But the new EU law widens the type of medical treatment that can be given and means that cardholders will be able to go straight to any local doctor if they fall ill without first registering with local authorities.

All UK citizens can now apply for the new EU health card by simply ticking a box on the new E111 forms. The new card will be available from September, but people can still use their E111 until the end of the year.

North West Euro-MP Chris Davies has welcomed the card's introduction. He says it will give greater confidence and security to travellers.

He said: "This is a good example of the EU adding value to our lives, getting rid of red tape and ensuring that holidaymakers can be confident of getting treatment easily if they fall ill while abroad.

"There will no longer be different rules for different groups of people, so the card should make life easier for workers and students studying abroad."

The scope of treatment has been extended so that all EU citizens will be entitled to 'medically necessary' care as opposed to the previous narrower limitation of emergency care. This will make it easier for chronically ill people, for example those with diabetes or in need or dialysis, to holiday abroad.

The Liberal Democrat MEP dismissed concerns that the new scheme would encourage 'health tourism' from EU citizens anxious to get treatment.

"Whatever its real merits the NHS does not have the highest reputation in Europe," he said. "If anyone did want to go to another country for treatment I think it more likely they would head for France, Belgium or Germany where so much more money has been spent on building facilities

and training doctors."

ENDS