Overview

In the European Union, patients are able to receive health care in another Member State. This has made life much easier for people travelling, working, studying, and residing abroad and provided options for patients facing long waiting times at home or suffering from rare diseases. These opportunities have been especially important during the COVID-19 pandemic, which has led to increased demand for COVID-19 care as well as catch-up care following the disruption to routine health services. As we are progressing towards a European Health Union, we suggest where improvements to cross- border health care could be made.