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28 September 2024
Greece and Cyprus co-host joint national workshop on EU cross-border healthcare and rare disease reference networks
Athens, September17, 2024 – Greece and Cyprus co-hosted the fourth in a series of ten national-level workshops taking place across the EU, aiming to raise awareness among European citizens about cross-border healthcare, their rights as patients, and about existing European Reference Networks (ERNs) to support those who are affected by rare and complex diseases.
The single-day workshop gathered around 300 participants, onsite and online. It brought together Greek and Cypriot policy makers, representatives from national and local administrations, healthcare professionals, healthcare providers, health insurers, and patient organisations. Participants exchanged views and emphasized the importance of further collaboration to enhance the healthcare sector for everyone.
The diverse programme of the event was fully dedicated to the implementation of the Cross-Border Healthcare Directive (CBHC), which, alongside the ERNs, breaks barriers, enables millions of patients each year to benefit from healthcare abroad, and is shaping the creation of a truly European Health Union.
Stella Kyriakides, European Commissioner for Health & Food Safety, told the workshop: “our vision is one where European healthcare transcends national borders. Where patients in the EU can access healthcare as easily and safely in another member state as they can at home. This evolution is already happening in the Greek healthcare system, which is receiving an increasing number of patients from other member states. Cyprus is also benefiting greatly. As a small country, it is particularly important that Cypriot patients can access advanced treatments and healthcare services in other EU countries.”
She added: “patients with rare and complex conditions must have access to the best available treatments, no matter where they live. This is where the European Reference Networks for rare diseases come in. They connect healthcare providers and specialists across Europe, making it easier for experts to share knowledge and for patients to get the care they need.”
Greece and Cyprus have a long history of investing in and developing cross-border collaborations and networks, although both countries differ significantly in the organisation, size, and capacity of their national health systems.
During the workshop, Greece stressed that the CBHC directive has already triggered key national reforms prompting the growing integration of care for patients with rare diseases.
Adonis Georgiadis, Minister of Health of Greece, said: “with cross-border care, citizens of the European Union have the right to access health services in any EU member state. At the European level, coordinated efforts are being made to strengthen and improve health services using digital tools for the benefit of patients with rare diseases (ERNs).”
Michael Damianos, Minister of Health of Cyprus, added: “Cypriot patients, as well as patients from other EU member states, can now exercise their rights to cross-border healthcare, with clear procedures for reimbursement and complaint resolution. Despite the legal framework, Cyprus has recognized the need to raise awareness among patients about their rights and to simplify the process to make cross-border healthcare a viable and effective option.”
The virtual European Reference Networks represent a unique and innovative healthcare model, connecting healthcare providers across Europe. Through these networks, providers collaborate to share knowledge and resources, advancing the diagnosis, treatment, and research of rare diseases. This ensures that patients receive the best possible care, regardless of their condition or location.
The European Commission has signed new grants totalling more than 77 million euros to help ERNs strengthen their work and achieve even more ambitious results, ensuring the sustainability of the networks until 2027.
Additionally, a new Joint Action on the integration of the networks into national health systems has also been launched, for a total value of more than 18 million euros. It involves all EU member countries, alongside Norway and Ukraine.
During the workshop, participants heard about the directive’s importance in providing access to cross-border healthcare but stressed that some key challenges remain in recognising its full potential. These include, in particular: a low-level of awareness over patients’ rights, a need for further enhanced patient empowerment, lifting of administrative and bureaucratic burdens, and comprehensive information on healthcare costs abroad, reimbursement, and existing options.
They agreed further steps need to be taken to overcome the hurdles, highlighting this must be a joint effort to effect meaningful change.
About the workshop
Athens workshop, on cross-border healthcare and European Reference Networks for rare diseases, was co-organised by the National Contact Points for Cross-border Healthcare of Greece and Cyprus under the Ministry of Health of Greece and the National Organisation for Health Care Services (EOPYY) and the Cypriot Ministry of Health.
The event is part of an initiative funded by the EU4Health programme, aimed at improving health across the Union and strengthening the implementation of the Cross-Border Healthcare Directive (CBHC).
It is was the fourth in a series of national-level workshops taking place in 10 EU Member States and Norway throughout 2024 and 2025. The next session will be co-hosted by Estonia and Latvia, in Valga/Valka, on 26 September 2024.
About the CBHC Directive
The Directive 2011/24/EU on patients’ rights in cross-border healthcare is applicable in all EU member states since 25 October 2013. It sets out the conditions under which a patient may travel to another EU country to receive medical care and be reimbursed at home. The directive ensures coverage of healthcare costs, as well as the prescription and delivery of medications and medical devices.
By outlining clear conditions and procedures, the directive facilitates smoother access to cross-border healthcare services while ensuring equitable reimbursement and quality standards across different EU member states.
