Plaid President, Jill Evans MEP, has welcomed the European Parliament's Environment Committee vote on "Patients' Rights in Cross-border Healthcare."

The aim is to ensure that all patients have the same choices based on their needs and not on what they can afford to pay. It doesn't encourage people to travel to other countries for treatment but ensures that when they do, the treatment is safe and of high quality.

Jill Evans said,

“If this law is agreed, it would mean that Welsh patients have equal rights to medical treatment in other member states and to be reimbursed the cost. They would have a choice based on their health needs and not on what they could afford. It would also ensure that everyone could get information on what healthcare was available, on how to make an application, on complaints and appeals.

"The Health Service is the responsibility of the Welsh government and a detailed inquiry into the affects of this new law on Wales was carried out by the Assembly's European and External Affairs Committee. Although the numbers of patients travelling to other countries for treatment is low, the Welsh health service has to be protected. The vote today confirms that for hospital treatment, patients would need the agreement of the government beforehand. This would ensure proper planning and financing, avoid overcapacity and prevent "medical tourism”.

"I hope that the EU governments will take these improvements on board, so that the law can be finalised as soon as possible."

Ends.