Health insurance smart card scheme starts in EU

The cards, which will eventually replace paper-based reciprocal health agreement forms such as the E111 and E128, contain a chip holding information that allows connection to a Health Insurance Data Server based in the patient’s home country. The server will store data such as name, address and next-of-kin details and possibly basic medical information, such as allergies. For emergency purposes, contact information will be imprinted on the front of the card.

The NETCaRDS consortium, who is running the EHIC project, says that the card will streamline information, reduce costs and provide hassle-free, equal treatment throughout participating member countries.

The EHIC card will not be introduced in the UK for another 18 months, when the paper form is abolished on 31 December 2005, a DH spokesperson has told E-Health-Insider. “UK citizens can continue to use E111 forms when they travel to any of the EU member states. They will not be deprived of access to healthcare should they require it."

The DH were unable to elaborate further on plans for integration with the National Programme for IT and current systems: “We will be shortly consulting on proposals."

Ministers at the Barcelona Council in March 2002 decided to introduce EHIC, and a pilot was run in several areas, including Paris, Innsbruck and Athens, by the NETC@ARDS consortium. The technology and its benefits were demonstrated at the eESC Open Conference in Milan in December 2003. It is hoped that by 2006, there will be around 167m EHICs in circulation.

Minister for Ireland’s Department of Health and Children, Micheal Martin, was first to welcome the introduction of the EHIC: “Replacing paper with plastic will make it easier for people to access healthcare."

Parallel legislation is currently being drafted to harmonise reciprocal health insurance across the EU. The EHIC is also being considered as part of the DH consultation document "Proposals to Exclude Overseas Visitors from Eligibility to Free NHS Primary Medical Services", published last month.