The Influence of European Law On National Health Policy

Abstract

Formally, the European Union has relatively little role in health and health care. This paper offers a guide to those responsible for devel oping and implementing health policy within the member states of the European Union. It first describes the legislative framework of the Union, the formal position of health and health care in European Union law, and the concept of subsidiarity. It continues by exam ining a series of areas in which provisions re lated to the 'four freedoms' of movement of goods, services, persons and capital have im plications for health and health care, such as free movement of professionals, of patients, of health care providers, and of pharmaceuticals. It concludes by considering when a member state can block free movement and how health can get on to the policy agenda.