Odontika

On the 3rd of December the British government will complete its consultation which seeks the views of healthcare professionals, patient groups, health organisations and the public on the new Patient Mobility EU Directive.

The directive is designed to clarify the rules that applywhen European patients want to receive treatment in a country within the EU other than their own. The British government remains "committed" to providing high quality healthcare close to UK patients' own homes. But ask the opinion of any one of the 47,000 UK patients who last year could notfind a National Health (NHS) Dentist and I’m sure the response “any dental healthcare is better than none”. If dental patients want quality dental healthcare they must either seek a private UK practice or go abroad and payless.

As more and more patients are electing to travel abroad for medical and dental treatment, the British government has an opportunity to regulate the practice within an EU context. By means of, for example, clearly stating what treatments and procedures are covered, by whom, and to what cost. Patients could thentravel abroad knowing what level of treatment they can get money back and topup to the desired quality of treatment.

It is clear, if the government wants to provide quality dental health care in the UK major change is needed, and considerable state investment will be required. Butin allowing patients to claim the equivalent of the none elective cost ofdental health care back, at UK rates, this would fund a large percentage of the patients elective dental health care abroad. The UK government would benefit by not having to invest so heavily in funding a total overhaul of NHS dentistry, allowing what funds are available to be targeted more effectively towards those that need it the most. The benefit to patients is quite obvious.

Discussions at the Council of EU Health Ministers in Brussels will be held on December 15th and 16th.

http://www.nhs.uk/Treatmentabroad/Pages/Plannedtreatment.aspx