Today the European Court of Justice has ruled in favour of Mrs Yvonne Watts, UK, and her compatriots in care. The essence of the court decision seems to be (when it comes to the ECJ you must read also between the lines) like this: EU citizens waiting for a medical procedure
can go abroad to have a reimbursable treatment, regarding “undue delay” in their home country.

Mrs Watts, 74, was first told to wait one year for a hip replacement. Displaying her anger the NHS offered to cut the wait till 3-4 months. But she went to France anyhow, paying herself for the treatment and then charging the NHS for the costs. Now the Court declares that she should have a refund but seems unwilling to specify what are the acceptable limits for waiting. UK courts have better look into the waiting times making national judgements, the ECJ suggests.

The ruling of today is another step in the direction of consumer power in health care. As three-four months of waiting now look unacceptable in a pan-European perspective a number of EU member care systems might need to shape up. The argument that good and timely services would cost too much does not carry, says the decision. I.e. what is good for the NHS – and other national systems – might be unacceptable to the consumer…

Mrs Watts found a suitable French clinic on her own. Most consumers look for improved information to take such a big step. Help is eventually under way though. Not by the European Commission the Health Portal of which has spent large resources to build an empty frame, exposed last week when the Portal was launched. No, it takes far more to empower the consumers to make informed choices in health care. Today, for the third consecutive year we presented our Swedish Health Consumer Index, providing comparative data on health care. As Swedish media will be displaying the next few days also in egalitarian Sweden it is important to look for the best care offers. It is a matter of service levels, quality outcomes and access. Especially as in Sweden you can buy a bottle of vodka on a Saturday but never see you doctor …

Johan Hjertqvist
President