EU health ministers meet in EPSCO Council
EU health ministers met informally in the Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council (EPSCO Council), on 6-7 July in Jönköping, Sweden.
The meeting was hosted by Mr Göran Hägglund, Minister for Health and Social Affairs and Ms Maria Larsson, Minister for Elderly Care and Public Health. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss important common issues. Items adressed included access to effective antibacterials, the prevention of alcohol-related harm and rights of patients to health, medical and dental care in another EU country.
Last summer, the Commission presented a proposal for a directive that would aim to clarify the situation for patients who travel to other EU countries for healthcare. The European Commission and the Swedish Presidency want to reach a political agreement at the Council meeting in December 2009. Both the Council and the European Parliament must agree for the new directive to come into force.