Cross-border healthcare: EU citizens as patients

With the free movement of people within the European Union (EU), it occurs that EU citizens need healthcare in and different country, other than their country of origin. Identification of patients is important, and the EU is currently implementing a digital Patient Summary to provide physicians with essential information concerning an European patient. Physicians should be aware that the obligation concerning informed consent carries extra weight for patients with a language barrier. A professional interpreter can facilitate bridging this linguistic barrier. All patients who die within the Netherlands are subject to Dutch legislation on organ donation. The reimbursement of care is regulated within the EU by Regulations (No 883/2004 and No 987/2009) and the Directive on the application of patients' rights in cross-border healthcare. In principle, unplanned care is always reimbursed, whereas planned clinical care requires permission from the patient's health insurer.