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Public consultation on the implementation of European Reference Networks (ERN)
Public consultation on the implementation of European Reference Networks (ERN) under the framework of Article 12 of Directive 2011/24/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 March 2011 on the application of patients' rights in cross-border healthcare.
Background
The Directive on the application of patients' rights in cross-border healthcare (Directive 2011/24/EU
) requires the European Commission to support Member States in the development of European Reference Networks between healthcare providers and centres of expertise.
The main added value of the European Reference Networks and of the Centres of Excellence is to facilitate improvements in access to diagnosis and delivery of high-quality, accessible and cost-effective healthcare in the case of patients who have a medical condition requiring a particular concentration of expertise or resources, particularly in medical domains where expertise is rare (see Recital 54 of the Directive). European Reference Networks could also be focal points for medical training and research, information dissemination and evaluation, especially for rare diseases.
Article 12 requires the Commission to adopt a list of criteria that the networks must fulfil, and the conditions and criteria which providers wishing to join networks must fulfil. The Commission is also required to develop and publish criteria for establishing and evaluating European Reference Networks. And it must facilitate the exchange of information and expertise on the establishment of the networks and of their evaluation.
It is important to point out that the first step of this process is to identify already established centres of expertise and to encourage voluntary participation of healthcare providers in the future European Reference Networks.
Public Consultation
DG Health & Consumers is launching a public consultation targeted to stakeholders on the implementation of European Reference Networks (ERN) and in particular on the criteria to be considered according to Article 12 of the Directive 2011/24/EU.
A conceptual paper(283 KB) and a questionnaire(74 KB) have been prepared by Directorate General Health & Consumers.
Target groups
- Patient organizations, health professionals' organizations and healthcare provider's organizations.
- Healthcare providers and centres of excellence, academic and public health and healthcare specialized institutions.
- Public authorities and government-appointed bodies responsible or involved in the definition of criteria and the establishment and evaluation of centres of reference/excellence and reference networks of centres providing highly specialized healthcare
Are welcomed to give their views.
Consultation period
23 November 2012 until 22 February 2013
Policy field
Public Health
Objective of the consultation
The Commission consults stakeholders to receive input of interested parties as to how the criteria for the scope and for European Reference Networks and the healthcare providers wishing to join the network could be addressed and facilitated.
The Directorate General for Health and Consumers intends to collect contributions that take into account scientific and technical progress on the field of centres of expertis/excellence/reference which primary aim is to provide high-quality, accessible and cost-effective healthcare in the case of patients who have a medical condition requiring a particular concentration of expertise or resources, particularly in medical domains where expertise is rare.
The public consultation seeks for, in particular, opinions and contributions based on evaluated experiences, regional or national models, technical and professional standards, criteria or recommendations which could provide inputs and facilitate the definition of technical and quality criteria (scope, general and disease specific elements).
How to submit your contribution
Questionnaire to be completed online (IPM questionnaire)
Depending on the detail of your answers, you may want to reserve 15 to 25 minutes for completing the questionnaire.
The maximum time to complete the questionnaire allowed by the system is 90 minutes. Partial responses will not be saved. This means once you start filling in the questionnaire, you have to answer all compulsory questions to submit your response.
You can, however, preview/print a PDF version of the online questionnaire(74 KB) to help you to prepare your response.
Results of consultation and next steps
A report will be provided after closure of the consultation.
Contact details
Responsible service:
European Commission
Directorate General Health & Consumers
Unit D2 – Healthcare Systems